Posted on Mar 11, 2019
What should I do if MEPS is requesting treatment documents for my service-connected disability from the VA?
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So I EAS’d in 2015 and received a 50% disability from the VA for my shoulder, knee, ankles and tinnitus. I am trying to re-enlist into the Army. I submitted my entire medical records from the VA to MEPS.
My recruiter contacted me today that MEPS is requesting more documents. Documents about all treatment received that has to do with what I am claiming disability for. I do not have any documents about treatment for my disability because I never went. I figured my injuries will just be with forever.
My recruiter told me that I will have to go to the VA and get something in writing that these issues are resolved in order for me to continue through the medical process at MEPS. I am worried that if I get signed off from not having any treatment for these 4 years that the VA will consider my disability claims cured and remove my disability rating. I know that enlistment is not guaranteed, but for now, my disability checks are. And I need those to support my family. Can anyone give me any advice on this issue?
My recruiter contacted me today that MEPS is requesting more documents. Documents about all treatment received that has to do with what I am claiming disability for. I do not have any documents about treatment for my disability because I never went. I figured my injuries will just be with forever.
My recruiter told me that I will have to go to the VA and get something in writing that these issues are resolved in order for me to continue through the medical process at MEPS. I am worried that if I get signed off from not having any treatment for these 4 years that the VA will consider my disability claims cured and remove my disability rating. I know that enlistment is not guaranteed, but for now, my disability checks are. And I need those to support my family. Can anyone give me any advice on this issue?
Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
Re-enlistment
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 5
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Yes, that is how it works. The conditions have resolved, in which case, you may be able to reenlist, or they have not resolved.
Even without seeking reenlistment, and unless the VA has rated you as permanent and total, the conditions can be reevaluated at any time. The VA caseload, and possibly the conditions themselves, may be the only reason you haven't been reevaluated already.
You'll have to decide.
Even without seeking reenlistment, and unless the VA has rated you as permanent and total, the conditions can be reevaluated at any time. The VA caseload, and possibly the conditions themselves, may be the only reason you haven't been reevaluated already.
You'll have to decide.
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1SG (Join to see)
Any disability payment will have to be waived for any period of active duty. This doesn't mean that your service connected rating would be terminated, as those conditions would still be service connected. Your recruiter will be able to tell you what you need fro VA (letter?) and what it needs to state.
Your conditions will have to meet the standards of AR 40-501.
Doesn't mean the VA will reduce the ratings, but that possibility exists regardless of any attempt to reenlist.
Your conditions will have to meet the standards of AR 40-501.
Doesn't mean the VA will reduce the ratings, but that possibility exists regardless of any attempt to reenlist.
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Cpl Luis Bolanos
I understand I’ll have to decide. My recruiter said that MEPS is asking for treatment for my disability that I never got. I’m just confused because I already submitted my entire medical records that the VA had to MEPS.
1SG (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see)
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1SG (Join to see)
Cpl Luis Bolanos Other than a statement from you that you had no treatment, your military treatment records, and copies of any VA examinations are the only other supporting documentation I can think of that would permit them to reach a decision.
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When you go on active duty your disability checks will stop for the duration you are on active duty. When you leave active duty they will start again. As a soldier serving with a disability rating, you really should have gone for treatment for two reasons. First, you could show that your disability won't be duty limiting based on evidence. Second, you would not be in danger of losing your benefits for not participating in treatment. My recommendation, go to treatment even at this late date. Who knows, maybe it will improve the quality of your life. Good luck.
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This may have been answered, if you were never treated then you do have anything to submit. If I remember correctly what I had to do in the same situation was write a brief statement saying I was never treated and the symptoms were resolved. I did submit my rating paperwork that explained why I was awarded the rating(you should be able to locate it on ebenefits). In my case that’s all I had to give seeing how I was never seen or treated after my initial exam. I also had to call the VA facility that seen me to get the names of the doctors that examined me. The VA would only give me their last names. That was enough to get me to MEPS and I passed everything no problem. In the end I provided them with all the documentation about my rating, a statement saying I was never seen and the symptoms were resolved, name of VA facility and the names of the doctors that examined me with the accompanying dates. Hope it works out for you.
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Cpl Luis Bolanos
You wrote a letter to the VA or to MEPS? I’m just worried that if I say these matters were resolved, it will eliminate my disability percentage, and I get denied by MEPS for whatever reason, I’d be stuck without that financial support.
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Sgt Will Colby
I had the same concerns as you but I don’t have a family and I was willing to lose the VA rating if it came to that. I did not lose the rating though. The letter was for MEPS but the recruiter handled it. The VA had nothing to do with the entire process with the exception of gathering documentation that was already on file. I told him, I had no documentation of being seen at the VA or a personal doctor because I was never treated for anything and that’s what I had to do. Also, if you tell the doctors at MEPS you still have symptoms they are probably going to look at that very negatively. I wish I could give you more definitive information but I’m just speaking from my experience which is basically the exact situation you are in. I think the odds of you losing your rating are highly unlikely but that’s a call you have to make.
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