Hi everyone ! My husband is starting his surgeries for his back. He got injured while on the job when he fell of the jet he is working on. I wonder if anyone has any pieces of advice, separating wise, and what we can get and what we should prepare for in the future? ANy piece of info will be appreciated. 

Make sure he visits a VA representitive so he can get VA benefits.

I would think if he is MEB he would get a percentage from that plus a percent from the VA.

Don't plan on living off the beefits though. 

Sorry, I don't know much about that but I just wanted to send u some good jujus to get through it all. Back injuries are no fun. :( 

Thank you. We are planning on not living on his benefits and me finishing school using the GI bill to help out. Thank u for the advice!@ Mitch01
@O.0 thank you for the Positive Vibes. I felt it! 

My BIL (E6) works on C17's/C130's. He was working on some wiring inside the plane one day and stood up in a "low ceiling" environment. This caused him to crush a bunch of discs in his back and put him outta work for awhile (he gave himself a severe concussion too!). He ended up going through surgery and having some discs removed. He also had some metal pieces implanted in order to secure his spine where the old discs were now gone. He isn't getting med boarded out.

I also knew a SNCO that poked one of his eyes out (while working, with a pair of needle nose pliers!)....now he only has one eye. He did that YEARS ago, he never got med boarded out. I wonder how they decide who goes? Confused. But yes, make SURE to contact the VA! We've got a good friend here who is in the process of this now. 

I also knew a SNCO that poked one of his eyes out....now he only has one eye.

OMG! That is so insane! 

OMG! That is so insane!

Lol, yeah. He's a great guy though...damn good NCO. They call him "One Eyed Jack". We were stationed with him at our last base and lo and behold we got stationed here with him again! He recently PCS'd though. God Bless him! Good man. 

Lol, yeah

omg, im so glad u lol'ed! Cuz i did too when i read that. but of course not out of trying to be rude. that's just crazy! 

This will scare my husband as he is already fearfu of what the future holds as we are both young. I would have him talk over here cuz he understands this better and he is the one who is going to take care of all this stuff. We are praying we get hooked up and not be screwed over. 

Unfortunately, usually once you have back surgery it gives you issues the rest of your life. 

Well, physically I think he still has two eyes. When I said "poked out" I was referring to the loss of vision. I don't think you can actually poke an eye out....you'd have to pull it out. Eww.

Regardless, I've only ever seen him with one eye open and didn't think it polite to be like "Hey man, you got another eye in there?" Lol! My wife explained to me what happened to him. I think she said he can only see "light" in the other eye.....that must be why he keeps it closed? Probably distracting!

OP, how bad did hubby get injured? dislocated vertebrae? Crushed discs? Just curious. My Dad has a genetic disorder with his back and it deteriorated over time....he actually lost 3" of height! Lol. 

Unfortunately, usually once you have back surgery it gives you issues the rest of your life.

Yep, my BIL gets Cortisone shots every few months. I thought for sure the USAF would have med boarded him, but nope. He is staying on board. 

"Hey man, you got another eye in there?" Lol!

lol! Man, I would have. But maybe being a girl I could get away with a little bit more. I mean...the curiosity would have been killing me! 

No kidding! my husband is 2 inches shorter and starting his Cortisone shots. He is at work right now. I am praying for Miracle that we get hooked up and we have great surgeons, and good recommendations. 

Faye -

Any chance he could stay in? Or is it pretty much set in stone that he is getting out?

A friend of my wife is going through the VA right now. She is getting some kind of "settlement" payment (5 figures) and then is basically getting E5 pay for the rest of her life. 

I also prayed for a miracle once. This is what I got.


 

@ Mitch - Nice. 

Faye- couple of questions, has the paper work for his seperation already started?

And second, why do you keep saying "hooked up"? What kind of "hooked up" are you looking for? 

"Hooked up" usually means livin' off the gubmint. 

Lol....ROFL. The "Gubmint". I had to read that a couple times to hear it in my head. You rock Mitch. Funny. :) 

Hi SSDD he was told when he spoke to the doctor he is most likely MEB'd and also if you do not mind me asking, what sort of injury did that friend of your wife's went through. My husband is in a lot of pain and could not walk without immense pain and has compressed disk.. :-( 

Faye, that is how my BIL felt. Could barely walk.....He was in a wheel chair for about 4 months. Then after he went through the surgery and healed from it he was pretty much good to go.

I'll PM you for the rest.... 

I had to think how to phonetically spell what was in my head. 

Hey Steph, I used the term because it would be nice to not have to be given a difficult time when you basically are only fighting for your survival. You know how sometimes in one's life , people make you feel like you are going through a needle, Just Cuz THEY CAN. 

Knowing is half the battle... 

Faye- My father has carpal tunnel, lancome, cateracts, Bipoloar, and postsomatic stress syndrom. Even with all of this, and serving 13 years in the Air Force, he only gets 50% VA benifits.

My husband has issues with his shoulder that he has had for 3 years. Back issues for God knows how long cause he is hardheaded and does not go to the doctor for it cause he does not want a discharge, and groin issues he has had for 4 years. They do the cordison shots to him, and physical therepy so that all is good and he can get back out there.

If he was to get discharged now, it would be bad cause he has only been in 9 years, and we would not get that much of benifits.

That is another thing, how long has your husband been in? 

I have carpal tunnel. ; O.o 

Both wrists? 

BTW, in order to get full access to a base after being discharged (other than going to a VA hospital which only your husband will have that right), you have to be either retaired, or 100% quilified with the VA.

That is why I asked how long he has been in. 

O.o.- yes, both wrist, and had them both operated on. As well as his eyes.