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Med Boarding Out of the Army

who's talking here?

TexasMama020507 2
*~Kristle~* 5
BusyMama 2
fairydreams0409 6
~happywifey~ 1
Brianna 2
DinkzKidz 3

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TexasMama020507 --- 14 years ago -

Anyone here had their husband go through this. We are on the final step. Got about 120 days left and honestly, I am FREAKING OUT!!! The last 12 years we have had the Army... I am still trying to finish my Bachelor's and look for a job. I have been putting applications in all over in a couple different states. Looks like he should get 100% BUT you never know...we don't know where in the world we are moving to (whether back to Texas etc depends if I get a call back from any of the jobs for myself).... Can you tell I'm stressed? Any tips? I just can't see our life without the Army. 

*~Kristle~* --- 14 years ago -

My husband went through the process last year, feel free to message me with any questions you may have, or just need to talk.
My blog talks a little about what we went through to.
forgetthedognotthebaby.blogspot.com

Kristle 

fairydreams0409 --- 14 years ago -

my hubby is goin through one right now, he is at the begining and has appointment this week for his phase 1 and phase 2. you are not alone. im actually ready to go back home, though so im not nervous because i know we will make it, and plus we get to keep tricare. so i wouldnt worry to much about it if i were you. i just have a question, why 120 days and not sooner? 

*~Kristle~* --- 14 years ago -

Oh yeah, it is def. nice having the insurance, and access to things that we had while we were still Military! Make sure you keep copies of everything because stuff has a way with getting lost, and ask tons and tons of questions during the briefings, and appointments and things because trying to get the answers later is tough. 

~happywifey~ --- 14 years ago -

my hubby had his phase 1 physical 2 weeks ago and I have no clue what to expect either. he is not going through a regular med boadr its a little different, and tips on how the process works and about what we will get to keep and what we will loose would be helpful. 

*~Kristle~* --- 14 years ago -

The things you lose, or keep will be determined by the rating he received. A less than 30% rating - medical discharge you will not keep benefits. 30% or greater- medical retirement most likely placed the temporary retired list for up to five years where he could be , called back if fit, or discharged if they determine the condition has stabilized and is still over 30%. If you are medically retired you retain your benefits. 

fairydreams0409 --- 14 years ago -

my hubby is keeping everything in this folder he has. because his grandma told him the same thing. she said that either they loose it or they trash it. 

*~Kristle~* --- 14 years ago -

That is the truth...my husbands stuff got lost like a thousand times...it was so ridiculous, luckily we had copies, still annoying to have to take it to them like 74394 times, but at least we had it. 

DinkzKidz --- 14 years ago -

Thank you for sharing the information, my husband is currently under treatment at the VA hospital and we are looking at Med Board when he returns. I will be sure to keep all paperwork he receives as back up. 

*~Kristle~* --- 14 years ago -

I'm happy to share what I can! I know it's a tough road! We have seen it all. Feel free to message me anytime with questions, concerns, anything really, if I don't have answers I'll find them, I have lots of wounded warrior wives as friends, each a wealth of information. 

fairydreams0409 --- 14 years ago -

my hubby told me that they have changed the med board process, and he said a doctor from mental health told him med boards last about 3 months now with all the new changes, is that true? 

DinkzKidz --- 14 years ago -

I think it depends on the soldier and to why they are Med Boarding as to how long it can take, I know a few soldiers that have been Med Board for a year to three years. 

fairydreams0409 --- 14 years ago -

maybe the doctor was meaning it towards my hubby then, i donno. 

DinkzKidz --- 14 years ago -

That could very well be true. I just hope it is a fast and painless process but with the ARMY we never know what will happen! Good luck to you and your husband! 

fairydreams0409 --- 14 years ago -

but with the ARMY we never know what will happen!
LOL,yah thats the bad part. 

TexasMama020507 --- 14 years ago -

They said 120 days at the most. I honestly do not know what the average is. We are waiting to hear final percentages. Right now it does look like he will get 100%. He has gone through phase 1 and phase 2. I am just along for the ride and he tells me when he has appts. but he has had so many that I have lost track of who, why, what lol! Im nervous about not getting the 'extras' like BAH and BAS etc. He said that disability etc makes up for that but I dont know the first thing about it. 

Brianna --- 14 years ago -

We began the process for my husband in July 2006 and by June 2007 he was TDRL. The process was long. He has to see many Doctor's, get statements, medical records etc. Even go to Ft. Lewis in front of the Board twice and have witnesses. We ended up doing an appeal in the process. They try desperately to prove it is a preexisting medical condition and offer less than 30%. They ever obtained all of his medical records as a kid and a teenager to review! Subpona! Oh yeah, they have a little "bible" on conditions and ratings and how they do it, so 100% is pretty far fetched for most. It is a lot of talk.

Anyhow, he got TDRL and we were on our own in June 2007. We moved back home with family until we could get established with jobs. He went through the VA system and got rated with them as well and they provided wonderful treatment. His condition was closely monitored and the Army reevaluated him about every 6 months. In June 2009, we got a certified letter in the mail stating that he was found fit for duty and he had a choice, either return back to active duty with same rank, pay, etc. or forfeit the TDRL benefits, which meant loosing the income as well as the insurance. We decided to come back in, but he had to go through a Recruiter, and in December 2009 he had his first active duty return day.

There are a few catches, we do have to repay the VA back for the financial benefits he received that were in excess of the amount of retirement from the army he collected during TDRL. That sucks and we wish we had known it, but you never know if they will pull you off of the list and let you return. If we do not pay it back, they will postpone his VA financial benefits when he actually gets retired or garnish wages. We have a payment plan with them, yippee!

He has several other buddies that have received TDRL, most not above 50% through the army and 80% through the VA. Their processes were all different as well. None of them are still on TDRL either. They all got the same letter in the mail to have a choice, one as soon as 6 months TDRL and the other just shy of 5 years. One amputee buddy developed diabetes on TDRL and he returned to active duty because he could not loose the insurance. He finally retired at 20 years last year and will not have to worry.

So, in my experience the system is a bit flawed and there are a lot of "wish we knew that stuff." It is very suprising with my husbands condition he is back active, but he will never ever be deployed again. Fit for duty, non-deployable. It is hard on him because his unit is gone and he is Rear-D once again. When we started the process, his condition was listed in their "bible" as not fit for duty and it has gotten progressively worse over the years. But somebody in DC decided that it is no big deal and is looking to save a buck. His condition did not improve or even remain the same! I was under the impression the same or got worse would be permanent retirement, but it was not for us.

The Med board process is full of suprises and I am sure it has changed a lot in the past few years since we did it. We worked so hard for the TDRL only to have it pulled away a few years later.

Oh yeah, my hubby still has an unexpired blue retirement ID card and an active duty one in his wallet, it cracks me up! My id still says TDRL on it too! 

Brianna --- 14 years ago -

Oh yeah, nobody ever told us that when you are TDRL not only should they be reevaluating the condition periodically, but they should also be evaluating for promotion. My hubby found this out when he returned to active duty. You just got to know everything and stay on top of things and keep everything too because it is more than just what the dd214 says. 

BusyMama --- 14 years ago -

I am not trying to be rude, but weren't you the same lady who was going to divorce your hubby not long??? 

fairydreams0409 --- 14 years ago -

I am not trying to be rude, but weren't you the same lady who was going to divorce your hubby not long???

who me? 

BusyMama --- 14 years ago -

who me?

No, the lady who started the post. 

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