Maydaigh
02-15-08, 10:33 PM
Good evening from Atlanta! This is my first post to this website which I found references to while searching for "solutions" to my situation. I have tried to search out the answers prior to posting this question, but I have come up empty and am requesting the knowledge of fellow Marines because after 9 months, I'm worn out with fighting this battle with Navy Medical.
Let me briefly tell the short version of my current situation. After law school, I was headed to OCS but felt it was important to go through enlisted training first....so I put of OCS until the summer session (reporting June 2007), going reserve enlisted then picking up my active officer contract. During MOS school, I was first "officially" injured and, while waiting to pick up with my class, finally went to get checked out, as I didn't want to be a light duty female in any training situation. Doctor diagnosed me with plantar faciatis, shin splints (huge surprise) in both legs, and similar problems..inflammation in both legs and overuse syndrome (did I mention I was at an Army hospital!?). But rather than starting any physical therapy or suggesting anything other than not running for two weeks, he sent me on my way to come back if needed (which didn't seem very likely because it took me awhile to even go in there). Needless to say, I left MOS training a few months later to go home for 5 wks before reporting to OCC-195.
At Quantico I was dropped into training, then within a few weeks, I was told to report back into medical due to my prior injuries which they wanted to ensure hadn't cropped back up. Needless to say, the physical trainer checking everything out was a little surprised I hadn't come in myself because apparently swollen legs are not that swollen just from being back in a training situation...who knew?! My injuries were apparently bad enough just to the naked eye and touch, that I was dropped from training within 10 min. The CO of OCS (mustang) came to sit and talk to me about things while I waited to be taken to mainside Quantico for x-rays, etc. The short list of my injuries are: shin splints deep in tibias of both legs, stress fractures on all but one metatarsal in each foot, bone spurs both feet due to weak ankles..subsequently I've had issues with my knees but was also diagnosed with "snapping hip syndrome" which I honestly thought had to be a joke.
Since receiving orders to reattach to reserve unit, the short version of what has happended follows: denied medical bc Army doctor info not in med record; appeal and get Army med documents to reinclude; medical granted as LOD determined but limited visits for consult, scans, x-rays, and related; told I would receive incapacitation pay (NOE 204(h) then 204(g)) and medical and dental for 6 months while no duty status; then told wasn't eligible because I didn't have a job prior to training injury and wasn't losing money---however, as I was an active duty officer contract who already graduated and came from enlisted training few weeks before, I wouldn't have had a job; they then say yes, I'm eligible for pay, etc.; but never received any money, couldn't find temp work and had no income for approx. 4 mths; received letter from Quantico asking for personal check saying I had been overpaid in June; Navy ordered Med Board in Sept., no active duty Army hospital would see me and wasn't able to get into Navy facility until end of Nov.; have been required to go up 7 times during the week for a 3 part physical (many reasons all incompetency) and ask for time off my civilian job on top of time off I have still been required ask for to drive up to reserve center in Knoxville (I live in Atl now) as I am still required to drill even though I can't do anything; have been to DTAP and supposed to sign final report of ortho doc but had to write rebuttal as my rank, gender, treatment, diagnoses, and date of original injury were all completely incorrect or not accurate; just received revised med report with things still inconsistent will all other med reports regarding injury and packet with likely be rejected from PEB board because doctor on leave until after due.
So since June of last year, I have been working my chain of command, respectfully been jerked around, denied pay when I had no source of income and bills I couldn't pay, have never received physical therapy or other med benefits to help so still suffering from same problems, continue to have ask for time off for med or drill (past what civilian employers are required to allow for unless service member activated), etc....basically, I am paying money to stay in military because of out of pocket expenses for travel, trips, and time off work; have found through reading internal communications possible no med help ever or pay because of length of service....and so many other things.
I am not one to complain or say something isn't fair, but I am literally at the point where I do not know what else to do. I am financially, physically and mentally pretty much completely screwed up from this situation and have not even been able to engage in running or any other type of exercise more than possibly that of a mall walker since 07 June 2007...so I have no outlets to get my frustration out. If anyone knows of anyone I can talk to or figure out a way to ensure that I do not end up getting completely left behind in this process. I have never cared about the money or benefits because I have always believed that those in combat zones are the ones who deserve those things...but it would be nice to have some physical therapy or maybe a guarantee that anything resulting from these injuries years in the future won't drive me broke because I can't even afford to pay for additional medical now than the limited plan I have through my company due to too many other expenses. I would appreciate all suggestions, advice, etc.
As a note, the lawyer in me has already gone through all applicable code, case law, found interesting comments in my med record inc. that the Navy was going to request a med board immediately if I got approved for LOD, saved emails, gathered contact info, all related communications, etc. But I know military help for problems with medical aren't really existent...but if anyone could point me in the right direction, I would really appreciate it. I apologize for the lengthy post, unfortunately, that is the most condensed version I could give. Semper Fi.
Let me briefly tell the short version of my current situation. After law school, I was headed to OCS but felt it was important to go through enlisted training first....so I put of OCS until the summer session (reporting June 2007), going reserve enlisted then picking up my active officer contract. During MOS school, I was first "officially" injured and, while waiting to pick up with my class, finally went to get checked out, as I didn't want to be a light duty female in any training situation. Doctor diagnosed me with plantar faciatis, shin splints (huge surprise) in both legs, and similar problems..inflammation in both legs and overuse syndrome (did I mention I was at an Army hospital!?). But rather than starting any physical therapy or suggesting anything other than not running for two weeks, he sent me on my way to come back if needed (which didn't seem very likely because it took me awhile to even go in there). Needless to say, I left MOS training a few months later to go home for 5 wks before reporting to OCC-195.
At Quantico I was dropped into training, then within a few weeks, I was told to report back into medical due to my prior injuries which they wanted to ensure hadn't cropped back up. Needless to say, the physical trainer checking everything out was a little surprised I hadn't come in myself because apparently swollen legs are not that swollen just from being back in a training situation...who knew?! My injuries were apparently bad enough just to the naked eye and touch, that I was dropped from training within 10 min. The CO of OCS (mustang) came to sit and talk to me about things while I waited to be taken to mainside Quantico for x-rays, etc. The short list of my injuries are: shin splints deep in tibias of both legs, stress fractures on all but one metatarsal in each foot, bone spurs both feet due to weak ankles..subsequently I've had issues with my knees but was also diagnosed with "snapping hip syndrome" which I honestly thought had to be a joke.
Since receiving orders to reattach to reserve unit, the short version of what has happended follows: denied medical bc Army doctor info not in med record; appeal and get Army med documents to reinclude; medical granted as LOD determined but limited visits for consult, scans, x-rays, and related; told I would receive incapacitation pay (NOE 204(h) then 204(g)) and medical and dental for 6 months while no duty status; then told wasn't eligible because I didn't have a job prior to training injury and wasn't losing money---however, as I was an active duty officer contract who already graduated and came from enlisted training few weeks before, I wouldn't have had a job; they then say yes, I'm eligible for pay, etc.; but never received any money, couldn't find temp work and had no income for approx. 4 mths; received letter from Quantico asking for personal check saying I had been overpaid in June; Navy ordered Med Board in Sept., no active duty Army hospital would see me and wasn't able to get into Navy facility until end of Nov.; have been required to go up 7 times during the week for a 3 part physical (many reasons all incompetency) and ask for time off my civilian job on top of time off I have still been required ask for to drive up to reserve center in Knoxville (I live in Atl now) as I am still required to drill even though I can't do anything; have been to DTAP and supposed to sign final report of ortho doc but had to write rebuttal as my rank, gender, treatment, diagnoses, and date of original injury were all completely incorrect or not accurate; just received revised med report with things still inconsistent will all other med reports regarding injury and packet with likely be rejected from PEB board because doctor on leave until after due.
So since June of last year, I have been working my chain of command, respectfully been jerked around, denied pay when I had no source of income and bills I couldn't pay, have never received physical therapy or other med benefits to help so still suffering from same problems, continue to have ask for time off for med or drill (past what civilian employers are required to allow for unless service member activated), etc....basically, I am paying money to stay in military because of out of pocket expenses for travel, trips, and time off work; have found through reading internal communications possible no med help ever or pay because of length of service....and so many other things.
I am not one to complain or say something isn't fair, but I am literally at the point where I do not know what else to do. I am financially, physically and mentally pretty much completely screwed up from this situation and have not even been able to engage in running or any other type of exercise more than possibly that of a mall walker since 07 June 2007...so I have no outlets to get my frustration out. If anyone knows of anyone I can talk to or figure out a way to ensure that I do not end up getting completely left behind in this process. I have never cared about the money or benefits because I have always believed that those in combat zones are the ones who deserve those things...but it would be nice to have some physical therapy or maybe a guarantee that anything resulting from these injuries years in the future won't drive me broke because I can't even afford to pay for additional medical now than the limited plan I have through my company due to too many other expenses. I would appreciate all suggestions, advice, etc.
As a note, the lawyer in me has already gone through all applicable code, case law, found interesting comments in my med record inc. that the Navy was going to request a med board immediately if I got approved for LOD, saved emails, gathered contact info, all related communications, etc. But I know military help for problems with medical aren't really existent...but if anyone could point me in the right direction, I would really appreciate it. I apologize for the lengthy post, unfortunately, that is the most condensed version I could give. Semper Fi.