Multiple Sclerosis Forum - MS and the military

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Q: MS and the military

asked by: zigemyster on September 11th, 2008

Moderator

How many of you served your country only to be medically discharged due to MS or find out later on down the road after you had separated from Active Duty that you were given a definate dx?

Did you know that the government considers MS to be a service related disability?

You see the government sets a time-frame from the time you leave active duty until you are given a dx of MS before your claim will be void as they only allow 7 years. BUT with great documentation and a fight for your rights...7 years is poo-poo. I was finally given a dx 11 years after I left active duty...why 7 years and not 70? Not every person who has MS is dx'd right away, it can take up to 20 years...it just depends.

Personally, I know first hand. And I proved beyond a resonable doubt (took 4 years but I did it) that I had an MS episode while active duty but the culprit was not discovered at the time as my symptom left as quickly as it appeared...however it was documented in my military medical records and continued into my civilian records.

You probably ask why would the government claim responsibility for MS for it's previous active duty employees? Let's see...recall all those injections we get during basic? Well a person may have an inactive gene that could cause MS but the drug(s) that they inject could turn that gene on. However if we had never been exposed to that agent...that gene would probably never have been activated.

Such a shame, there is no one else in my family who has MS symptoms or been dx'd as such...I'm the first documented case...I don't mind being first, just not this time.

Users who thank zigemyster for this post: Fairy Godmother

Replies(32)

Dr. Nikola

replied on October 2nd, 2008

Doctor

The cause(s) for multiple sclerosis still remains unknown so it is very dificult to relate any event during the military service with latter MS occurence. There are several risk factors for MS occurence: genetic, certain viral infections, Vit D deficit, exposure to certain toxines, smoking, vaccinations etc. But clear conection between MS and any of these risk factors is not proven yet.

zigemyster

replied on October 5th, 2008

Moderator

It might have been those mandatory vaccinations that I received during Basic Training in San Antonio, Texas.

Colorado_CJ

replied on February 26th, 2009

New User

While Dr. Nikola is right and we don't know the cause of MS, we do know that people returning from the sandbox have a higher incidence of MS than the general population.

So while we can't say what it is, we know that something that is happening during military service increases our risk. Thus, a diagnosis of MS within 7 years of leaving Active Duty is automatically considered a service connected disability, and you receive 30% disability for that alone.

zigemyster

replied on February 26th, 2009

Moderator

30% is not correct, there are several factors that are taken into consideration and while I was active duty I did not participate in the sandbox adventure. It could be as little as 10% or as much as 100%...

I along with others believe that it has something to do with injections...it's just that in some individuals it will turn the MS gene on.

Think about this...when our troops are stationed overseas they are required to take injections plus whatever they are exposed to in these foreign countries...

Interesting...

ryanmac15

replied on March 1st, 2009

New User

Does having MS immediately DQ a person from joining the military?

zigemyster

replied on March 2nd, 2009

Moderator

Yes as MS is an unpredicable disease of the Central Nervous System...

Anniboo

replied on April 1st, 2009

New User

Think my husband should be getting payments

Was in Iraq in 1992, Active Duty 1984-1994, inactive reservist 1994-1997, diagnosed with MS 1997 6 months prior to final discharge.

Who do we talk to about this? I don't even know where to start?

zigemyster

replied on April 1st, 2009

Moderator

Re: Think my husband should be getting payments

Anniboo wrote:

Was in Iraq in 1992, Active Duty 1984-1994, inactive reservist 1994-1997, diagnosed with MS 1997 6 months prior to final discharge.

Who do we talk to about this? I don't even know where to start?

He'll need to get in contact with VA. (va.gov or phone) If a MS diagnosis is made within 7 years from date of ACTIVE duty discharge then it is considered to service related disability. (If dx'd more than 7 years but if there is documention in active duty medical records an MS attack then you fight with VA; like I did...I was not dx while active duty as my symptoms would leave as quickly as they appear)

Who gave him the dx of MS? Civilian or Military doctor?

Reason that I ask... If civilian doctor, his claim once approved by VA will retro disability pay to the date of his claim not the date of dx. If military doctor then they should retro disability pay to date of original dx.

Also he will be examined by VA to determine his disability rating...

VA will require documentation, documentation, documentation and you and / or your husband will need to keep VA in check...

If there is anything else that I can help with, let me know.

Best of luck,

Zig

Anniboo

replied on April 1st, 2009

New User

Yes - he was dx within 7 years

Was on active duty until Oct 1994 and was diagnosed in April 1997 by a civilian doctor.

He is now very disabled - due to memory issues, personality changes, depression, fatigue.

We are starting the process for SSDI I hope after a visit with his doctor tomorrow. But now I'm wondering if VA Disability would be the better option.

Can he get both?

zigemyster

replied on April 1st, 2009

Moderator

VA would be a better option.

The reason I say this...

He will be able to get his meds for little or no cost (not just MS related), all or partial healthcare through VA. Or he may choose just meds from them and healthcare through a private doctor.

If he gets worse; he would need to be re-evaluated; rating would increase and so would his disability payments.

As you know MS medication is expensive and to know that your out of pocket is very little, if any.

He might be able to fight or have an attorney who knows how to fight for VA benefits to request VA retro disability payments back to when he was first dx.

I know when I separated from active duty I was not given a list or notified that if I get such and such within a certain time frame to come back to them and file a claim.

It is sad that I found out about MS related disability quite by accident...

I'm not sure about SSDI...it would be just a disability check with no benefits, correct? Like if he needed healthcare, meds, physical therapy, etc...would be an additional expense?

I'm sorry to hear that he is not doing well.

Is he taking any medication for MS / symptoms?

Anniboo

replied on April 2nd, 2009

New User

We have private insurance

Blue Cross - through my employer and it is excellent. His MS Meds cost about $30,000 annually and there is no cost to us at all.

If he qualified for SSDI he would get Medicaid to go with it so would still have medical coverage.

I'm trying to find out if I can apply for both when I call today. The NMSS says to join the Paralyzed Veterans and that they will provide free advocacy and help with VA Benefits. So we'll start with the VA and the PVA. I may talk to an attorney too because 12 years of back payments would be a huge relief from the situation we are in now. He has been unemployed for 6 months and we are living on my salary alone which is doable since I make a good salary but has been rough because we were used to his salary too and it was also fairly good. Sad

Thanks for the advice - this is the first site I found with the 7 year info and I've since confirmed that from the VA website, the NMSS website and the PVA website so it seems since he was diagnosed within 3 years of active duty this should be a no-brainer. Wonder how long it will take to get it approved though? I should have done this years ago. Sad

1LTRamadiIraq

replied on April 6th, 2009

New User

MS from current Iraq Duty

Are there other Soldiers/Marines who have unexplained illness? I have been through the VA and Civilian and finally an Infectious Disease Doctor. My primary and Infectious Doc both agree it is MS. I want to hear from others please.

SD

mrtudeep

replied on May 2nd, 2009

New User

Not in Iraq

I did not serve in Iraq, but I was diagnose with MS right after getting out of the Air National Guard in 2001 (with in 2 months). I get SS disability and I am currently going thur VA claims. I'm also the only one known to have it in my family. I had many vaccines given to me while in the Guards.

zigemyster

replied on May 2nd, 2009

Moderator

Re: Not in Iraq

mrtudeep wrote:

Unsure when you got your shots; mine were in 1985...I was active duty and did not serve in Iraq...only stateside...and I am the first documented case of MS in my family and I have dug deep into both sides of my family tree looking for someone who was dx'd or had symptoms...nothing.

It just goes to say...they know something in those shots could possibly trigger MS & cause our body to attack itself at any given time.

I hope all works out with your VA claim...it took me 4 years fighting with them (plus they kept losing paperwork...thank goodness I keep excellent records and copies).

Did you also know that if MS attacks you and causes damage (like gastritis)that you can ask VA to reopen your file as that too is considered part of MS. I questioned it myself and was told that it is true....

Users who thank zigemyster for this post: mrtudeep

Fairy Godmother

replied on May 2nd, 2009

Supporter

Hey Girlfriend

Zig, you are just full of suprises! You make me so very proud to be your friend! Give em hell girlfriend!

zigemyster

replied on May 2nd, 2009

Moderator

Re: Hey Girlfriend

Fairy Godmother wrote:

Zig, you are just full of suprises! You make me so very proud to be your friend! Give em hell girlfriend!

Full of surprises...little 'ole humble me? Shocked

Naw, I'm the lucky one to have you as MY friend, the queen

Fairy GodMother (one and only)...

Users who thank zigemyster for this post: Fairy Godmother

mrtudeep

replied on May 3rd, 2009

New User

served in the military

Whiled serving in the Air National Guards I was a police officer. But prior to that I was active in the army, were I also received many vaccines. I am told I do have a case with VA. I feel they will step up to the plate. Thank you for your advise.

Anniboo

replied on June 29th, 2009

New User

We are now 3 months past our VA Applicaiton - last week they sent us a packet of more stuff to fill out and despite us sending them statements regarding his disability and forms for them to get records from all his doctors they want us to get the records ourselves. I have most of them now so just about ready to send back to the VA with all my t's crossed and my i's dotted. They say they could have a ruling within 30 days of getting this information.

I'm nervous - although it should automatically be service connected we really believe he should be considered 100% disabled at this point and also receive additional payments based on the loss of ability he has from the MS, (walking, some sight, fine motor skills, short term memory).

Once it is service connected and we start getting some payments we will hire a lawyer to try and get him retro payments back to the original diagnosis 12.5 years ago.

I found out that when he was diagnosed he went to the VA in the city we used to live in and at that time (May 1997) the person there told him he did NOT have a case and would not get benefits. This is why he never pursued it. So I am wondering when the 7 year window was put into play? Was it after that or was that case worker seriously negligent?

zigemyster

replied on July 2nd, 2009

Moderator

Honestly I do not know when the 7 year window came into play. They initially denied me as my 'offical diagnosis' was after 7 years. I came back over and over again as to why 7 and not 70 as MS does not present itself the same in each person who has it. Some people can get a diagnosis right away and others it takes longer (many years in some cases) depending on symptoms, length of attack, physican(s), etc....

Speaking from experience: Stay on top of this with VA...paperwork has a tendency to disappear within their walls.

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