Army What happens if someone dx with something during IRR time

[DD214_DOC]

---

Members don't see this ad.

What happens if someone on active-duty who, during their period of IRR for medical education, was originally dx with a condition that could potentially cause them to not be retainable per AR 40-501? The person remained symptomatic and untreated despite multiple efforts to obtain continued management due to incompetent providers and eventually found a good one several years later who made the same diagnosis? Does this go to an MMRB, MEB, or would it be considered a, "pre-existing" condition?

 

[notdeadyet]

It would not be pre-existing, unless you could substantiate that the individual was diagnosed with and aware of the conditioning prior to enlistment.

This would likely go the MEB route, but hard to say without knowing more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[j4pac]

Was or wasn't the condition present BEFORE active duty? And was or wasn't the condition made worse by active duty service? Those two questions will lead you to your answer.

Administrative separation is performed for the convenience of the patient and the government. If the patient wants to be retained in the military...I would put the patient on LIMDU to see if he/she could improve and be stable/FFD/deployable...or MEB if I don't foresee the patient has a disqualifying condition for service or if he/she fails all treatment.

We've received instruction to NOT be the judge if something is pre-existing or not. If the patient wants to be retained...do not go the admin sep route.

 

[DD214_DOC]

So, this may be splitting hairs, but when you write, "active duty", do you actually mean, "active duty", or any type of service to include inactive reserve? Condition clearly present and symptomatic prior to any type of service but not diagnosed until individual was in the inactive reserve; remained symptomatic with treatment and continued to be symptomatic on active duty but without treatment.

 

[asdf123g]

How would they prove that someone had condition "x" prexisting? Even if they had seen a doctor about it prior to enlisting, whats to stop said person from pretending they never knew about it since HIPAA protects them?

 

[68PGunner]

How would they prove that someone had condition "x" prexisting? Even if they had seen a doctor about it prior to enlisting, whats to stop said person from pretending they never knew about it since HIPAA protects them?

There are certain conditions that are more likely to be genetically inherited or born with. For example, Diabetes 1 is an inherited condition. I have known dudes that get mebed for having diabetes and assigned a lower va rating due to its inherent nature.

 

[jabreal00]

It is

So, this may be splitting hairs, but when you write, "active duty", do you actually mean, "active duty", or any type of service to include inactive reserve? Condition clearly present and symptomatic prior to any type of service but not diagnosed until individual was in the inactive reserve; remained symptomatic with treatment and continued to be symptomatic on active duty but without treatment.

It is not splitting hairs. Was there a diagnosis of said condition prior to signing a contract and joining the military whether it was on active, reserve or IRR? That is what is meant by a pre-existing condition. If something manifested during medical education after they joined it's not pre-existing. Assuming the IRR is temporary and said person returns to active duty it really depends on their functionality. If someone has a chronic medical condition or on medications which would impact deployability or assignment locations (needing to be near specialty care) I would start the administrative process if I were their provider. This is for their own safety as well as operational readiness. Too often troops who try to hide chronic medical condition for fear of being discharged are sent home from deployment with flares or exacerbations of whatever chronic illnesses. Many troops discontinue needed meds while they are going through SRP prior to deployment so they aren't flagged as non-deployable. When I was deployed, I encountered plenty of troops who stopped their IBD meds so they could deploy and were flaring in theater. It's a logistical challenge, and impacts not only the ill troop but the unit, especially if they have a sensitive or key role in the deployed unit.

I'd give a P3 profile. This would start the administrative process. They likely will go in front of a medical board. If it's a medical provider or someone else with a high skilled or needed MOS and said chronic condition is controlled, the Army most times will retain and the person would covered administratively (profile). I had a E7 with IBD. Clinically controlled on immunosuppressives. However, was not deployable due to his medication. Eventually went to a board. He was retained due to his MOS and his commanders vouching for his need. He is now administratively covered and getting the appropriate care he needs.