Medical Discharge

[AWatkins]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

I am in Korea and will just have reached a year of service in July. I came into the Air Force with a injury in my hand, I have two broken bones/knucles and a dislocated bone in the same hand. When I went through MEPs they told me as long as I could do push ups and it does not bother me I would be fine. Now, more then a year later it is causing pain on a daily basis. I just got it x-rayed and have not heard back from the hospital but the first time I got it checked out they told me I would have to get pins in my hand to keep the bone in place, and after that I broke the two knuckles so the situation is even worse this time. I talked to someone who told me they had a friend get discharged after getting a large amount of metal in their hand, due to the fact that it could expand and contract with extreme hot or cold weather.

I am not sure as of now if I would get the same thing for the pins, so my first question would be is this grounds for a medical discharge. My second is if I will be able to keep my GI bill because I read it takes 3 years of service to qualify even though as of next month I will have paid the full cost. I have read the other questions similar to this one and people keep mentioning VA, if that is the case am I automatically refered to or transfered to VA, or do I have to seek them out on my own? I went from highschool to military with maybe a month in between so I know very little about... well, a lot of things to do with life away from a parent like presence so how would I get a hold of VA.

Any help or information is very much appreciated.

[Shay-Pari'e]

This is not an injury you received in the military, so you will not get any benifits. I don't see you getting a discharge either, as this was a condition you had prior, and can be fixed.

Your bones had to have already healed in some way.

[Shay-Pari'e]

Did you break more bones after you joined? Once you pay off your GI bill, that will stay with you unless you get a dishonerable.

Go speak to your first Sgt. about this.

Further, I thought you only had to finish your CDC's before starting classes.

[Shay-Pari'e]

Watkins, what squadrin are you in, and are you at Osan? My son thinks he knows you.

[AWatkins]

Hmmmm, who is your son? 731st AMS. Thanks for the information.

[AWatkins]

Originally Posted by Shay-Pari'e

Did you break more bones after you joined? Once you pay off your GI bill, that will stay with you unless you get a dishonerable.

Go speak to your first Sgt. about this.

Further, I thought you only had to finish your CDC's before starting classes.

I did not break any bones after I joined. You can start classes but I have heard that was covered for just being in the Air Force. They encourage you to take classes and pay 100 percent of cost as long as it does not get in the way of duty without ever touching your GI Bill

So if I happen to get discharged I would recieve no benefits but keep the GI Bill?

[Shay-Pari'e]

Originally Posted by AWatkins

Hmmmm, who is your son? 731st AMS. Thanks for the information.

Ok, he is 51st CS, so you work on the flight line I am guessing. so you are probably the wrong Watkins. He is here in Cali at the moment, so that is why I asked.

[Shay-Pari'e]

Originally Posted by AWatkins

I did not break any bones after I joined. You can start classes but I have heard that was covered for just being in the Air Force. They encourage you to take classes and pay 100 percent of cost as long as it does not get in the way of duty without ever touching your GI Bill

So if I happen to get discharged I would recieve no benefits but keep the GI Bill?

That would be correct, your injuries were not caused by the military, and please do not count on a medical discharge, they are more likely to put you in a different position, and most likely will not cross train you. I'm sure you are well aware of the positions I speak of.

Get your hand fixed if the military is willing to fix it, and stick out the rest of your term.

[AWatkins]

I know a Sean I was good friends with in Tech School who is now at Travis in California, and a few others I went to basic with. I would guess him because he was from the Bay Area before that. Well thank you for the help.

[Shay-Pari'e]

Originally Posted by AWatkins

I know a Sean I was good friends with in Tech School who is now at Travis in California, and a few others I went to basic with. I would guess him because he was from the Bay Area before that. Well thank you for the help.

No, my sons name is Tyler. We do however live by Travis. Your friend is at a great base, (Travis), but I'm sure he is not real happy with all the smoke right now. Good luck to you, and I will PM you my sons name.

[Shay-Pari'e]

I can't PM you the info as you do not have yours turned on.

[Shay-Pari'e]

Dear Watkins,
I notice that you are having some trouble over in Osan (where i am also currently stationed as well). And wanted to see if i could offer any help with your problem. My advice at the moment is to bring this problem up to your first shirt and see what his course of action would be to help you in your situation. IF that doesnt work you and your supervisor could always look around and see what other courses of action are availible. If you need some more help in the matter just open your private messages and ill give you my contact info so you can contact me if you need more help/advice. I will be back to smelly Osan in three weeks.

Ty

[Shay-Pari'e]

Thanks Watkins, He just replied to your PM, he said you wont be able to get a hold of him till after the July exercise. You will like him alot, he's a great kid.

[JADM]

If your condition is unfitting (prevents reasonable performance expected of someone of your grade/AFSC) you will be found unfit by a PEB. The question of whether your condition Existed Prior to Service will be addressed. But the law presumes (meaning they have to show by a preponderance of the evidence that your condition was not aggravated by service AND is natural progression of EPTS condition) service aggravation.

With the degree of injury you describe, most likely outcome would be separation with severance pay (2 times years of service times base pay). If you can get rated at 30%, you would be eligible for military retirement.

You would retain GI Bill. Also, it looks like Improved GI Bill will be signed into law in the near future, making paying in irrelevant. The exact contours of this law (and its implementing regulations) are yet to come.

BTW, the regulation that covers all of this is AFI 36-3212. Best of luck!