military medical discharge

[helpingmyson]

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

My son,19, left for bootcamp 4-29, he is currently "On Hold" at his A school awaiting a Honorable Medical Discharge. He had lab work done in bootcamp (somewhere around week 4-5 into it), went to the dr's sometime after and they wanted more tests, graduated bootcamp and started in A school, he then had it confirmed that he was diagnosis with chronic hepititis c. ( This was a shock to all of us) He was told on 7-27 that it was a pre-existing condition and treatments would be costly, there was "nothing they could do, it was their loss and he could come back with a doctor's waivier". They said it would take about a month and 1/2 to finalize discharge. I, of course, want him home right away so "I" can get him the best treatment I can find and hopefully get it cured. During this I am in the dark on info, It is hard to communicate with him while he is there. But I do know that when he entered the DEP (delayed entry program) on 7-23-08 (over a year ago) he was sworn in, given a physical, "lab work" (that apparently cleared), and considered "Active" while awaiting deployment as a HM (hospital corpsman) on 1-23-09. While waiting he changed his rate from HM to DC (damage controlman). As of right now I'm waiting to hear from him if they did another "lab work" when he switched rates (around end of Dec. to early Jan.)and when he was actually sent off to bootcamp from MEPS. He arrived there (MEPS)on 4-28 and left for bootcamp 4-29, I'm thinking they did. I'm wondering if as of 7-23-08 his lab work apparently cleared, even without other labwork, and they already had excepted him as of that date, and also excepted him into bootcamp and A school, it would be pre-existing? And especially, if they took Labwork before he even got on the plane to bootcamp. We DO NOT know where or when he got it, with general means, MEPS, bootcamp. Would he not then be eligible for any medical help (costs, treatments, etc.) or instead of medical discharge maybe medical leave so he can still earn his income to help with costs of treaments and if he gets a doctor's wavier he can resume where he left off? If he's not entitled to anything, so be it, I want him and he needs to be sent home for treatments to begin, this is not a waiting disease. He so loves and so proud to be in the military, he's of course devastated with it all. I need some answers, suggestions, anything to help him out. Thank you.

[objetora]

According to at least one doctor's statement that I found on a website, it usually takes about 3 - 6 months after infection for Hep C antibodies to be detectable. Based on the date of entry into boot camp (4/29/09), it would seem to be pretty hard to prove that the infection didn't happen before that and that it wasn't a pre-existing condition. There are no disability benefits for medical discharge with pre-existing conditions.

[helpingmyson]

So he's not considered Active or they wouldn't be responsible for him when he was sworn in on 7-23-08, nine months before entering bootcamp? That would still be pre-existing? His lab work cleared I know then. Do I need to wait to hear if he also cleared labwork in Jan. 09 and Aril 09 before he flew to bootcamp. Because if he cleared also in Jan. that leaves 4 months till the one he had at the end of May, and April would leave 1 month. Atleast I am getting a time line in how long he had been infected. Any advise on what he needs to be sure of before any paper work is signed and he leaves? I told him to be sure its in writing that he is able to re-enter with a doctor's waiver, anything else? Thank you for any replies and help.

[objetora]

Pre-existing means prior to active duty (DoD Directive 1332.18). Active duty begins on entry to boot camp.

It is my understanding that hepatitis C is not transmitted casually, so your son might be able to pinpoint the event that caused the infection and determine whether that was before or after entering boot camp. There are good websites on the disease; I found one by searching "hepatitis c transmission".

[helpingmyson]

Thank You Objetora.

[ERAUPIKE]

Originally Posted by helpingmyson

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

My son,19, left for bootcamp 4-29, he is currently "On Hold" at his A school awaiting a Honorable Medical Discharge. He had lab work done in bootcamp (somewhere around week 4-5 into it), went to the dr's sometime after and they wanted more tests, graduated bootcamp and started in A school, he then had it confirmed that he was diagnosis with chronic hepititis c. ( This was a shock to all of us) He was told on 7-27 that it was a pre-existing condition and treatments would be costly, there was "nothing they could do, it was their loss and he could come back with a doctor's waivier". They said it would take about a month and 1/2 to finalize discharge. I, of course, want him home right away so "I" can get him the best treatment I can find and hopefully get it cured. During this I am in the dark on info, It is hard to communicate with him while he is there. But I do know that when he entered the DEP (delayed entry program) on 7-23-08 (over a year ago) he was sworn in, given a physical, "lab work" (that apparently cleared), and considered "Active" while awaiting deployment as a HM (hospital corpsman) on 1-23-09. While waiting he changed his rate from HM to DC (damage controlman). As of right now I'm waiting to hear from him if they did another "lab work" when he switched rates (around end of Dec. to early Jan.)and when he was actually sent off to bootcamp from MEPS. He arrived there (MEPS)on 4-28 and left for bootcamp 4-29, I'm thinking they did. I'm wondering if as of 7-23-08 his lab work apparently cleared, even without other labwork, and they already had excepted him as of that date, and also excepted him into bootcamp and A school, it would be pre-existing? And especially, if they took Labwork before he even got on the plane to bootcamp. We DO NOT know where or when he got it, with general means, MEPS, bootcamp. Would he not then be eligible for any medical help (costs, treatments, etc.) or instead of medical discharge maybe medical leave so he can still earn his income to help with costs of treaments and if he gets a doctor's wavier he can resume where he left off? If he's not entitled to anything, so be it, I want him and he needs to be sent home for treatments to begin, this is not a waiting disease. He so loves and so proud to be in the military, he's of course devastated with it all. I need some answers, suggestions, anything to help him out. Thank you.

One thing I should point out, while he is still enlisted in the military he will receive full medical care.

[LSCAP]

I believe that the (our) military has, or can provide, the best health care in the world.
So, if they can prove that it happened while in the military, don't think he can do better if you get him out.

[helpingmyson]

They are the ones discharging him, I just want to get him care soon. They have him on "hold" awaiting discharge, but have not scheduled any other Dr's appointments. They say since they feel its pre-existing, there's nothing they can do. Most do say it can take 3-6 mos. to show up in blood work, but some also say it can show within 2 weeks. I won't know until he has a actual biopsy, which looks like he won't get until he gets out and I set it up. Which, since I or him have no idea when that will be, I can't do yet. Its the hurry up and wait game now. I and my son, (him especially) would love to have him stay and get treatment (if even needed yet). We would we even help pay. And he may not even be at that stage yet, this can be 20+ years away, or not. He would even change rates and be a paper pusher or something but that doesn't seem to be a option. I haven't been on here in awhile, I have been scouring everything on the web for all the info I can find. He will now need help financially, medically, and so on. Alot on a 19 year old that up until a month ago was on cloud nine in pride and looking foward to a new life. I can't find anything that he is egilible for since he only finished bootcamp and started A school. He was told he was active 7-23-08 when he signed up and was put in delayed entry pogam, but I guess not really until he started bootcamp 4-23-09. Thank you for your answers, everything helps me to help him.

[ERAUPIKE]

What do you mean by "they?"

[Gail in Georgia]

Screening for Hepatitis involves a test known as the ELISA which checks for specific antibodies the immune system begins to produce after transmission has taken place. It is the same test used for HIV screening (although different antibodies are checked for this viral based infectious disease). As with both viral diseases, it takes the immune system a while to produce enough antibodies to be picked up on testing. It is recommended that one wait at least 90 days after a potential exposure to be tested for the most accurate results.

As previously mentioned, Hepatitis is spread through rather limited activities. Your son may be able to pinpoint when he might have been exposed.

You are jumping the gun a bit on things like biopsies; in early stage Hepatitis biopsies are almost unheard of and the progression of the disease can be monitored simply through blood tests. Many people infected with Hep C (even those who do not respond to therapy) remain very productive folks.

Gail