Veterans with UC

Welcome to HealingWell, Darth.

I haven't been in the military, but we have had several members here going through the same thing. To the best of my recollection, most of them have had an MRB, and many of them have received a medical discharge.

Hopefully some of them will see this and respond to you.

Haha. Looks like I'm alone for now...

I did get some good news at work today. It's looking like my hard work has paid off and my entire command is going to go to bat for me to try and keep me in the navy. I'd still appreciate input from anyone out there that's got actual experience though. Thanks.

Thanks Chris. Everything I've read so far made me think that they're gonna give me the boot. Base medical and my chain of command have been really supportive and I think I'm going to get to stay in. It all depends on whether or not I can stay in remission. Even if I have a flare up between now and February I think I'm looking at being able to stay in.

I'm also wondering what type of disability comes with this from the VA if it does result in a medical discharge. I haven't been able to find anything concrete.

I found this from a forum of a couple years ago... not sure up to date it would be...

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Re: Disability % for Ulcerative Colitis	#1	[url]	[-]
	Here is what the CFR says: 7323 Colitis, ulcerative: 100% - Pronounced; resulting in marked malnutrition, anemia, and general debility, or with serious complication as liver abscess 60% - Severe; with numerous attacks a year and malnutrition, the health only fair during remissions 30% - Moderately severe; with frequent exacerbations 10% - Moderate; with infrequent exacerbations Keep in mind that you need medical evidence to go along with what is happening to your body. See a doctor when needed and document your case. Saying your health is poor is not the same as a doctor saying it is. It sounds like you are still on active duty. If this is the case and you get seperation pay for the condition, keep in mind that you can not draw VA disability for that condition until the amount of seperaration pay has been "paid back" by VA disability pay. You can draw VA disability pay for other conditions that you were not seperated for. I have seen over and over again vets who get out with seperation pay and then file for disability thinking they will get a decent check because of that disability. Treat seperation pay like advance VA disability pay. Good luck on your case and your health. NavyNCC

Thank you guys so much for all the help.

Hi! I have absolutely no experience in this but I wanted to offer a random observation. I think the military needs to look at whether you can perform your job duties safely with your illness. In the army you might be in a tank w/ 5 people in the middle of nowhere with no bathroom and no ability to just "pull over" - in the air force you are stuck in a small plane w/ no bathroom. At least in the navy you are on a ship w/ more bathroom access I would assume. If that is the case you may be able to continue safely doing your job and then you might be able to stay in. Just a guess.

Darth-
I was 20 and in a tanker unit in the Army. I did like you, folks liked me and tried to keep me in. I spent a few months in the supply room and then worked in the church. I was bored out of my mind and felt like I was looked upon as a walking profile (if you know what a permanent profile is). It was a roller coaster ride of prednisone. I got out, went back to school and eventually got to a senior management level at a major aerospace company. I learned alot, like the benefits of the private sector vs the military. I recomend you don't fight it and get out. You will never feel like you are getting the respect you deserve because you won't be able to do the things you use to do. I don't mean to be blunt, but I wish someone told me. If you are as sick as I was it will take a few years for you to understand how to control the disease and live your life around it.

Good luck,

Dave

Darth - you might want to visit the crohns board too. There is a member named mmmnavy who is a navy veteran w/ crohns. She still gets her care through the VA. If you can find a post where she wrote you can use the little envelope icon to send her an email.

Darth,

I am in the same shoes as you. I am a 1stLt in the Marine Corps and was diagnosed with UC May 2008. Through a mess up at the health clinic, I am just now going to a MEB. I have been on Remicade since DEC 2008 and have been in remission since then. Remicade was the only drug that every seemed to do anything. I got no real relief from prednisone. Like you, my command has been behind me the whole time. I am trying to be trained as a pilot. Belief it or not, I've already had NAMI give me a waiver to fly. Now, I just have to convince the Marine Corps to keep me. Its a very frustrating process, but don't lose hope. There are other people in the Navy and the Marine Corps who have this disease and are still actively serving. Please keep me posted on how things go.

Nick

Hi Malkavian,
Thank you for your input. As you recognize, the current economic state of the country combined with geographic location and socio-ideological thoughts will influence everyone. That being said, I cannot speak to individual circumstances. What I can speak to is one should look ahead beyond the current five year, ten year or twenty year span of their life and focus on the long term. The benefits will outweigh the short term thoughts. By benefits I mean education (Vocational Rehab Program), disability checks and medical coverage for the rest of one's life. Although the disability checks are small and the medical coverage may come with a job, the college education will carry someone alot farther then trying to stick with their current situation. If someone is getting MEB'd out of the military this year during the recession, it is the perfect time to spend another year or two (or four) in a university to better themselves and set up a successful career. I personally got my bachelors and my masters paid for.

I just can't imagine with life changing benefits why one would get out of the military and go straight into a job (but like I said, everyone's in a different position, including family responsibilities). With the voc rehab, not only does a full education get provided for, the veteran receives a stipend and 100% medical. Focus on the long term and don't sell yourself short. Struggle with your family to earn the bigger house and retirement for them in the future.

I just got news today that big navy is rushing my med board and probably going to try and force a separation. I'm going to get more info on Tuesday and I'm going to fight it every step of the way.

And this is the last time I'm going to defend my stance on wanting to stay in:

Club, I'm happy things worked out for you. I really am. But you got sepped when you were 20? What were you? A Pfc? A corporal? I LOVE, LOVE, what I do. I've got a quarter of my life invested in this thing so far and I'm really good at what I do. On top of that, I like what I do. I came in as an E1 in a job field where promotion was next to impossible due to being overmanned and I still put on E5 in four years. I was halfway up the enlisted ladder by the end of my first enlistment. It's easy to say what you say when you get discharged that early. But this is who I am. This is what I love. This is what I do. It makes me happy and I'm proud to do it.

Good luck with what ever comes your way. I hope you stay healthy and, for all of us, they come out with a cure for UC.