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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/28/2008 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
SO there was a thread that I dug up when I first joined a few days ago, and I didn't realize that it was very old. It talked about this, but there was limited interest.

SO I am just trying again, with a thread that is specifically about the above topic. I am curious to know about everyone's dealings with the VA, MEBs, etc. Also, if any of you were medically retired (which I am being considered for). Did they throw lump sum separation at you? Percentage? Temporary Disabled List? There are rumors that UC is absolutely non-retainable unless in remission. I know it is impossible to pass a Chapter 2 physical with actice UC and on any meds for UC (I just did this and was denied 3 times in a row, so this process is something I know alot about). But that's an acession physical, not a CHapter 3 retention physical. My UC is attributable to Iraq and Afghanistan deployments, but I am still going through the LOD process. Signs are 100% positive on the LOD, whenever it finalizes, but everything else including my VA claim is a wash. I am currently using the DAV as my advocate with the VA.

These are all huge subjects and I am hoping that some have gone through them, and are willing to talk about them. This is going to be my fight for the next year I assume.

Any service, combat veterans or otherwise. And sure, any military from other countries as well, wouldn't want to dis-clude you, and it might help to know how the process is different.
Posted 8/28/2008 6:44 PM (GMT 0)

Lucky777, I was one of the ones that answered that original post. I was Medically Retired from the military and have been dealing with the VA for nearly 40 years now it's not easy to explain everything that I went through on a thread like this. It is very complicated. Originally i was put on the "Temporary Disability Retirement List" (TDRL). They then called me back for another physical 2 or 3 years later and I was then put on the "Permanent Disability Retirement List" (PDRL). I knew however that due to my "SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY" (Gun Shot Wound) I would end up there. Having UC as your service connected disability may be given a TDRL status. What would that condition be in 2 or 3 years  when appearing for a physical to go to PDRL? Idont think anyone can say.  When I was put on the TDRL the Army put me at a 30% rating. The VA upped it to 40%. This was for a Gun Shot Wound received in combat. As one said on the other thread he/she was told 100% was promised. I am more than a little leary of this promise. Then you go into the VA system that gives you a rating based on their guidelines. Usually you are subject to "RECALL" by the VA within 3 years of the initial rating. They then "REVIEW" your case and see if the original rating still applies. You can go up or down. I was as Isaid placed at 40% by the VA throughout the years submitting appeals and going for SEVERAL physicals I am now up to 90%. This statement is cutting a very long involved story very short. As I stated in the other thread when it come to the VA DOCUMENTATION is everything. There is so much more I could explain to you but I have to get ready for work now. Is there some way we could communicate privately? I think it would be so much easier. Good luck!

Posted 8/29/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
No that is fine, I appreciate your insight. I was actually looking more specifically for UC cases and those workings as opposed to any other VA / MEB interaction. But I was not specific in my request :-). Your situation is helpful just to note that I am on the right track with the process overall. And to know that the process can continue after the initial ratings. Thanks for that.

I would still like to hear from more with UC in the military that either have been processed out, kept in, or somewhere in limbo.
Posted 8/29/2008 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
I have CD, but at 50 percent still fighting to get 100%, 3 years and counting. Since I was a Surface Warfare Officer I was on the bridge and throwing up blood, so needless to say I was processed out when I broke my back.
Posted 8/29/2008 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hmm.. Is that to say that they didn't push you out until you had something completely different happen medically? Sounds criminal.
Posted 8/29/2008 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
No, I was hiding and denying it, because I knew how important it was to be percieved as having no weaknesses. But once I broke my back it manifested with a vengence and there was no way I could deny something was very wrong.  It still took me a long time to get dx after that. I just got told that I was stressing from orthro, being on ship, and had ulcers from that.
Posted 9/3/2008 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
As an update: Good news.

My Line of Duty investigation came back yesterday, and it found my Chronic UC attributable to my Iraq and Afghanistan tours - so officially it is now "In the Line of Duty". My Permanent 3 profile is being drawn up this month, and I will start my Fitness For Duty evaluation once that document is processed.

SO, again reaching out for any knowledge as to what I can expect, or any other insights would be helpful.

As an aside, I have already forwarded the DA form for my LOD findings to the VA via the DAV (who I am using as my advocates). SO my claim should now be complete with that added to the adjudication process.
Posted 9/3/2008 3:56 PM (GMT 0)

That is great news!  You certainly deserve full benefits.  If this war lingers on, do you think that my son would be ineligible because of UC?  Just wondering.

Posted 9/3/2008 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Alot of that will depend on the board that convenes, but here's my two cents:

1. Chronic UC is a non-waiverable CHapter 2 Physical Condition - this physical is the accession physical. When I recently had mine done for a career path change as a Warrant Officer, I was vehemently denied, with the approval authority for an exception to policy being the Army Chief of Staff. If he is not in yet, he won't get in with this condition.

2. Chronic UC IS a waiverable Chapter 3 Physical condition - this is a retention physical. However, it is classified as non-deployable and that is non-waiverable either. I am currently in a non-deployable status, and my Fitness for Duty evaluation is convening to decide whether I should be retained in service or separated due to chronic illness. I would imagine it will be largely based on the board doctor's definition of Chronic, and the severity of my case.

Now, ask any good IG and they will tell you "Where there's a will there's a waiver". However, that does not apply at all to point one - been there, done that, and these are the results.
Posted 9/4/2008 11:05 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the information. As I said before, I am a Mom who was just wondering.  I am sure my Son would do whatever his Country asked him to do. Bless you and all of our military men and women. 
Posted 9/4/2008 6:08 PM (GMT 0)

I am a OIF and OEF veteren, i got diagnosed with UC right after my 3rd deployment from Iraq. The medical board eval was initiated before i even had a definitive diagnoses, then in under year later i was medically discharged with a 20% rating.  The military wont give you a 30% or higher unless you are pretty screwed up, because if they do then you are offically medically retired and retain alot of benifits. Now if you get below that like me they will give you severance pay which is your base pay x2 x years served up to 12 max and wash their hands of you and you are now in the VA's hands. The VA found me 30% as a single guy i get 314 a month and the infinite headache of below average medical care with GI specailists which they are very short on it seems.

The process will go as such (well this is how it went for me)...

You get diagnosed the local medical board makes a decision on what to do with you ie discharge, retain, waiver...I can tell you right now if its chronic and non-deployable and you dont have many years in they will attempt dishcarge probably at 20%.

Next you can appeal this or accept it. Obviously appeal, which will take you to the formal medical board for AF thats in Texas, lackland.  When you go to the med board you have to state your claim and case. What i mean is if you want to stay in then that needs to be expressed. Or if you want a higher percentage that needs to be said, but mind you, you can only ask for one thing and not both.  You will have representation, VA or military either they suck...they will come up with their decision right there in like 10min.  For me they left it the same 20% with severance pay. 

Next you go back to your duty station and you have like 20 days to do a written appeal. Which you should do.  As soon as you hear back from that its final, mine didnt change and like a month later i had my dishcarge orders. The end.

Although for more veterans out there that got medically discharged under 30% i read the pentagon is heading up a new medical board run by the Air Force to review all service veterans cases they think alot got short changed ecspecailly like the marines and stuff. You could get called back in for a another FMEB.

Posted 9/4/2008 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
I see. Sorry they seemed to have hosed you. I have 11 years of service, so not sure if that puts me over the hump or not. I am going to fight as hard as I can, so I will see where that takes me. The interesting thing for me is, I am filing a VA claim concurrently - so if the VA finds me JUBAR, and grants a larger percentage before my FFD ever even convenes, I would like to see how the military evaluates the same information.
Posted 9/4/2008 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, the trend I have seen is the military has a tendency to under rate disablity in comparison with the VA.  But to get compensation to the level you need takes time, like I have 4 VA doctors that say I am 100% disabled, but still I am only rated at 60%.

So it is back to the appeals process for me.

Posted 9/4/2008 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
From what i understand you can prep your VA claim but it will not be filed until your are officailly discharged from the service if that happens. So there is no way the VA claim percent will come in before your military. Not to mention it will take the VA months to come to a rating decision. I know we say anything over 10 years is "over the hump" but 11 years wouldnt sway their decision on seeing you unfit for duty, although on the other hand your severance pay would be nearly max...You say you are going to fight as hard as u can...do you mean to stay in or get a higher percentage? Did your local med broad eval you and attempt a discharge? Are you scheduled for your Formal Medical Board yet? If you want to stay in you should have an impecable record and fluant it, let them know how you can still do your job, and have a more than one GI specailist backing you up on how minor your disease is and how it is well controled with meds. If you want a higher percentage its all about the medical info you have to support yourself with. How bad your disease is with more than one GI backing you up, ER visits the max! Dont rely on your lawyer to do much of anything for you, mostly study up on UC because those doctors on the FMEB may even ask you questions about it!
Also another note if you fight to stay in remember every year you will have to go up infront of a FMEB and get re-evaluted or if your symptoms suddenly worsen. And that can be stressful in its own, wondering how you will support yourself or family. Thats why i chose not to fight to stay in as i only had 6years in at the time...another 14 of that crap...i would have never made it.
Posted 9/4/2008 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
mh53mike is exactly right about the med board stuff and now I have see a disablity rating done in 45 days from the VA, so hopeful it will not be too bad for you. But realize it is probably going to take time for the disablity rating to come in.
Posted 9/5/2008 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hmmmmm, just a questions but uh how many military people on here came down with this DD after coming back from Iraq???? I was AF with 9 years in, went to Iraq and a couple of months back I started getting sick, and was diagnosed with UC. That's when all hell broke loose and I was put through the ringer and finally discharged for it because they said that they could not take the chance of getting sick overseas where they would not be able to treat me and since I was unable to deploy they said that I was not worthy to stay in the AF.
First and foremost you need to get a copy of your medical records and get them to the VFW so they can help you do all the paperwork when applying for your rating. they will also have you give them power of attorney with this paperwork only but they will be able to fight the VA on your behalf if they don't think that you got a reasonable rating. I am currently at 60%, 30% for the UC and the other for other issues that are active duty related. Ugh, I would not want to relive those days of fighting with the military and the board for anything. I do wish you the best of luck, my e-mail is on my profile if you ever feel like talking.
EM
Posted 9/5/2008 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Sean.. I was AF, had 14 years in and was just medically retired this past June.. Not for UC, but I have gone through what you are going through.. just wanted to chime in and lend my support/2cents.. :) I thought that since I didn't have 15 years in, I wouldn't be medically retired.. I thought I was only going to get a severance, however, the MEB findings found that my condition would never get better, and I was undeployable, therefore, they retired me.. I am still going through the VA process, and awaiting my VA compensation rating.. I was retired at 40%.. With the AF, once you sign the paperwork accepting what they offer you, you have 40 days to outprocess the military.. so all my appts were made AFTER I had already retired.. I just finished with my psych-eval last week.. so hopefully all of my paperwork is now on it's way to Columbia, SC (I'm in Charleston, SC)... The VA told me that once they receive all of your test results, x-rays, etc.. it takes 30 - 90 days to get your rating.. So I am hoping that I hear something by Christmas.. good luck to you, if you want to chat, my email is under my name.. please let us know how you are doing..
Posted 9/5/2008 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Wow this is getting to be a really good discussion.

Basically, when I said I would fight hard, I meant fight hard for a higher rating. I am not naive enough to think I can sustain in this organization for another 8 years until retirement. As we speak I am waiting for a call from my nurse to discuss another work-release for a week because last night I had a relapse - everything hurts and I have been up all night going to the can or having gas that hurt.

CUrrently I am classified as non-deployable, but after my Fitness for Duty evaluation, they get me out to Madigan for and decide wether I am retainable. From what I have been told, that is largely dependent on me.

As far as my VA claim, it will be finished before the Military is done with me. I left active Duty and am now with the National GUard. The only difference in the process (some think that the guard process for medical retirement is different, it is not), is that I CAN elect to take my VA rating while I am still in the guard. The deal is, you can not receive pay from both at the same time. So basically, if they award me 50%, I will stop receiving drill pay. If they award me less, I will balk.

Additionally, I am a full-time DUal Status Army Civilian employee, which means that my employment with the federal government is directly tied to my service to the National Guard. If I am separated from the Guard medically, I start receiving my pension from the civilian side early at a lower rate, and retire normally at 62 with a full-pull (as if I had never stopped working). So that is a good thing.

The VA has a small novel of all my tests and procedures, and I add to their files every time something is new. I am hoping this weighs in. My claim is over 2 months old and is currently in adjudication (based on what my advocate has told me).

Keep talking about this guys and gals, we may all learn a little something about our benefits and how to better get what we need. Thanks for all the knowledge of the process and how things have gone for you.
Posted 9/19/2008 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Update: I have received my official Line of Duty investigation findings (before I just had the interim documentation, this is the actual document with the Army Letterhead.) I have been told be a retired Inspector General friend of mine that this piece of paper is worth gold.

My Fitness for Duty evaluation has begun officially now, and quite frankly the military representatives that I have been working through were amazed at how fast my paperwork zoomed through he process - I am hoping that is a sign of good things to come.
Posted 8/6/2010 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
I am an OIF veterat that has suffered greatly with Ulcerative Colitis and so far have had to have surgery to remove 90% of my colon because I was just not responsive to any of the medications my doctor has tried on me in the last 2 years and it is looking like at least 1 more surgery is in my future to remove the remainder of my colon. I personally know 3 other vets that were with me when I was there in 2003 that have very similar illnesses to mine. I was wondering if there is possibly any others out there that are suffering from the same thing?
Posted 8/7/2010 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
I am also an OIF Veteran. While in Iraq I started to flare up with my UC. This all started in late 2006 and I was discharged in late 2007. I was put on TDRL and after going through review boards, I am still on TDRL. If they put you on TDRL you are given a 50% rating. Once you get off TDRL you will get whatever % they give you. I will receive 30%. I also receive 30% from the VA. I am going through the process with a DVA to appeal, as my UC has been on a constant flare since late 2008. Bloody stool, 12-15 bowel movements a day, most diharrea. I am taking 6-MP, I receive a remicade infusion every 4 weeks, take 1600mg of asacol, proctofoam once a day. I have an appt next week and plan on discussing surgery. I just can't live like this anymore. I am 25 and my entire youth is being taken away from me. Anyone else out there like this? What is everyone VA rating with UC?
Posted 12/9/2010 3:05 AM (GMT 0)

I am an OIF Veteran. I have 21 years of service in the Army. 19 years active reserve and 2 years  in the reserves. I was diagnosed with UC in 2007. Trying to figure out now if I need to push for an MEB or just retire and put in for VA disability. I have been having UC problems the last few years. I also have back problems and joint disease in both knees. I am glad I found these forums and enjoy reading them and educating myself. Please advise if anybody is going through an MEB and if its worth it. Sorry to hear that some of you are very young and diagnosed with UC so early. I was 37 when diagnosed.

Chris - 40

 Medication

Asacol 9 Pills a day

Folic Acid 1 pill a day

Nexium 1 pill a day

Post Edited (BIGGON) : 12/26/2010 1:09:11 PM (GMT-7)

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