Discharge upgrade for miss diagnosis?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 17:45:20 -0400

Hello, to make a long story short I enlisted in the army back on July of 2019 and got an ELS on August of 2019. I also Received an Uncharacterised Discharge because i was diagnosed with “Arthritis pain” in basic. Went to a private rheumatologist after 1 month when i got home and came out negative for Arthritis. The pain I was feeling in basic was neck pain, not “Arthritis pain”. Rheumatologist said I was miss diagnosed and I have all the medical documentation for the miss diagnosis to begin my discharge upgrade but, what are my chances that the Discharge Review Board, with all my private medical records, upgrade my Discharge do to this miss diagnosis?
P.S. after almost 1 year and 4 months since Discharge, I still have neck pain and now lower back pain related to the back pain.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Apr 23 at 2021 5:46 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 17:46:49 -0400

You have nothing to lose by trying. Contact a VSO to help you.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2021 10:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 22:17:29 -0400

Just FYI, a "misdiagnosis" is when you get the incorrect diagnosis for your condition. For example, you come in to the ER with hand pain and the provider gives you a diagnosis of arthritis. It turns out your hand pain is actually caused by a fracture, not arthritis.

A "missed diagnosis" is a failure to diagnose or a delayed diagnosis. For example, you come in to the ER with hand pain. The provider diagnoses you with ICD-10 code M25.54 "pain in the joints of the hand" when you have multiple fractured fingers. Technically, you do have pain in the joints of your hand, but the provider missed the diagnosis S52.64 "nondisplaced fracture of proximal phalanx of finger."

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2021 10:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 22:45:49 -0400

What are you hoping to have it upgraded to? It's an Entry level Separation, no matter what the reason it's almost always an uncharacterized discharge. You didn't get injured in IET so your issue was pre-existing, meaning you don't qualify for a medical discharge

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Apr 24 at 2021 2:11 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 02:11:04 -0400

I am curious as to what the second opinion diagnosis of your neck was.

You stated that instead of arthritis it is neck pain. The problem is that that Cervical Dylosis (arthritis of the neck) is neck pain. Unless you have some ammunition to use in an appeal calling it a misdiagnosis is misleading. But again you may have something to show.

Coming from someone who was medically retired it all comes down to documentation. What event or injury happened in training that caused significant damage that would result in a discharge? Unless you can display that the injury occurred during training they have a decent case to keep the discharge as is. I’m not accusing you of anything but with the information that has been provided I don’t know if you have a case. But if you feel that you do you can apply and swing for the fences

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2021 10:44 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 22:44:51 -0400

At the point of an entry level discharge I am curious the extent of the injury that was incurred that resulted in this. Most medical conditions that are caught in Basic Training are pre-existing. It is possible to get an injury but in my time in the military those that just started will find they are not conditioned to serve and they are separated. I have even seen Soldiers get separated at their first unit due to medical issues. With just being in Army just a month you may have a bit of a challenge.