Med Board and ERB???

[Blue Van Man]

Hi All.


I have hearing problems ( Ehhhh!!..I hear you all shout)...last week I went to a med Board and thought it was going to be a routine chat and an Upgrading to allow me to self manage noise ( ear protection). However..it ended up being a 6 hour head scratching session with the group captain trying to do his best by me but I have been given a med Cat that now allows me to do everything, go everywhere but...limited to the "upper exposure noise threshold"..as an Aircraft Techie..that would seem bad news.

I am a SGT, I currently reside in a little known training camp just north of Wolverhampton and the noise issue is not really, well, an issue.

My case has now been referred to and Employment Review Board. I have done 21 Years and 1 month and, from what I am told, I could have my career terminated by the scribblies!..not what I want to happen. I am on to LOS 30 and due promotion to CT ( yeah right).

If I get Med Discharged the gratuity is pants, better would be redundancy but at the moment I am happy to stay put. If I had done 22 then my options would be greater enhanced with my Pension.

So..does anyone have any experience of this, barring in mind it seems they do not want TG1 Sgts at the moment..what do you think my prospects of termination are??

Not quite ready to leave and bricking it!!

 

[Tin basher]

Hearing declines with age anyway and there is a scale of hearing loss that all will experience regardless of the job you do. The issue usually arises when the curve on your personal graph falls below the expected down curve of the standard graph. I have known people downgraded with hearing loss issues to be simply moved into a noise free task area. Not a difficult thing to achieve at the secret West Midlands training base. Leaving with hearing loss can be a nice little earner if the ambulance chasing lawyers are to be believed. Your percentage of loss seems to be the trigger for a compo payment, around 20% from what I've heard (pun intended).

 

[busby1971]

At my discharge medical there SMO was really concerned about my hearing, sent me to a specialist who said I was just below normal nothing to worry about, move on.

If you are Med discharged then you will get a medical pension that rises every year, yes the lump sum is lower but that is because you cannot commute. Then you can claim for a war pension which if it is your principle condition should have a good chance of success.

Before you do anything else you need to speak to either a SSAFA or TRBL for support.

Sent from my View pad apologies for the spelling

 

[Hu Jardon]

wot he said and FFS don't panic - when was the last time anything happened quick? By the time any of your worst case scenarios occurs you will have done 22yrs and some - plus you need time for resettlement etc plus if you sort it to be a war pension then all your pension will be tax free - simples

 

[Blue Van Man]

wot he said and FFS don't panic - when was the last time anything happened quick? By the time any of your worst case scenarios occurs you will have done 22yrs and some - plus you need time for resettlement etc plus if you sort it to be a war pension then all your pension will be tax free - simples

I have spoken with the Chf Clk, Leg iron and SPVA..the estimates are not good. 4-8 weeks for the ERB decision ( my impact statement is already there) and 6-8 months till discharge if recommended. The desk said they would contact my line manager and if I am able to do my job then they would " probably" leave me there till posting where it will then be reviewed however, they have said..many times, " in the current climate"...blah blah.

The legion said I could be awarded a war pension if deaf in both ears!!..not so in my case. Glasgow were 'chocolate fire guards' so I have joined the Forces Pension society.

It has all come as a bit of a shock and far too quickly. I hate playing the waiting game.

 

[norfolkred1]

I have spoken with the Chf Clk, Leg iron and SPVA..the estimates are not good. 4-8 weeks for the ERB decision ( my impact statement is already there) and 6-8 months till discharge if recommended. The desk said they would contact my line manager and if I am able to do my job then they would " probably" leave me there till posting where it will then be reviewed however, they have said..many times, " in the current climate"...blah blah.

The legion said I could be awarded a war pension if deaf in both ears!!..not so in my case. Glasgow were 'chocolate fire guards' so I have joined the Forces Pension society.

It has all come as a bit of a shock and far too quickly. I hate playing the waiting game.

Did the Med Board give you any options......

I was downgraded a few years ago and off to the Med Board I went with deafness in one ear only. They left the choice to me.


1. Leave now
2. Continue with my current engagement.

As I had already passed the 22 year point opted for number 2 with limitations, no OOA but I could go to Cyprus or Germany, ideal MED CAT methinks. Anyway I completed to age 47 then approached the pension people, luckily for me I had a cold when I saw the Doc and was awarded £35 a week, not a lot but over a period of time it mounts up. Better in my pocket and not theirs.

If you don't ask you don't get. A Rock WO mate of mine took my advice a got £2,000 one of payment for deafness.

 

[Blue Van Man]

Did the Med Board give you any options......

I was downgraded a few years ago and off to the Med Board I went with deafness in one ear only. They left the choice to me.


1. Leave now
2. Continue with my current engagement.

As I had already passed the 22 year point opted for number 2 with limitations, no OOA but I could go to Cyprus or Germany, ideal MED CAT methinks. Anyway I completed to age 47 then approached the pension people, luckily for me I had a cold when I saw the Doc and was awarded £35 a week, not a lot but over a period of time it mounts up. Better in my pocket and not theirs.

If you don't ask you don't get. A Rock WO mate of mine took my advice a got £2,000 one of payment for deafness.

Hi Norfolk.

I was offered Med Discharge there and then but declined. It now goes to a ERB. My hearing loss and problems is a complicated mess of happenings, failings and events that will need a good solicitor to look in to...I have never really joined this sueing/compensation society but have been urged to look in to it.

What was the £35 a week?..additional med pension or invalid benefit?

Thanks.

BVM

 

[Sospan]

Did they tell you straight up what your new JMES is? I am looking at the same possibility (albeit with a different condition) later in the year, but with far more time before my 22. It could be a right kick in the nuts.

 

[Blue Van Man]

Did they tell you straight up what your new JMES is? I am looking at the same possibility (albeit with a different condition) later in the year, but with far more time before my 22. It could be a right kick in the nuts.

Sospan.

yes they did, I got my new JMES with bells on! ..they offered Med discharge there and then.

Hope it all goes well for you

 

[norfolkred1]

Hi Norfolk.

I was offered Med Discharge there and then but declined. It now goes to a ERB. My hearing loss and problems is a complicated mess of happenings, failings and events that will need a good solicitor to look in to...I have never really joined this sueing/compensation society but have been urged to look in to it.

What was the £35 a week?..additional med pension or invalid benefit?

Thanks.

BVM

Hi BVM,
The £35 per week comes from the War Pension chest. There was no med pension as I left at my aged 47 slot without an offer of extension. I only went down the RBL route because hearing loss was a Trade trait due to listening to white noise for hours and hours with an old Bakelite headset with one ear piece. I would strongly advise anyone to who feels that their Med Cat has deteriorated to seek some form a redress. The RBL did all the donkey work for me, all I had to do is to see a quack when the appointment had been made, then you will get the resulting offer with a chane of appeal if you do not agree with their findings. Deafness is a hard one to prove wrong, it's up to you how it pans out

 

[bigtrev952]

Hi BVM,
The £35 per week comes from the War Pension chest. There was no med pension as I left at my aged 47 slot without an offer of extension. I only went down the RBL route because hearing loss was a Trade trait due to listening to white noise for hours and hours with an old Bakelite headset with one ear piece. I would strongly advise anyone to who feels that their Med Cat has deteriorated to seek some form a redress. The RBL did all the donkey work for me, all I had to do is to see a quack when the appointment had been made, then you will get the resulting offer with a chane of appeal if you do not agree with their findings. Deafness is a hard one to prove wrong, it's up to you how it pans out

hi

I have gone the same route but have not heard back yet. I went for the hearing test with one of the atos guys a couple of weeks ago who intimated i was right that there was high tone deafness, my chart did not register a start to 30 db, but reading the spva notes it says you have to be 50db, how did you fare ?

 

[norfolkred1]

hi

I have gone the same route but have not heard back yet. I went for the hearing test with one of the atos guys a couple of weeks ago who intimated i was right that there was high tone deafness, my chart did not register a start to 30 db, but reading the spva notes it says you have to be 50db, how did you fare ?

Hi Big Trev,
I left nearly 3 years ago so the figures are a bit of a blur however, the Doc I saw also said along the same lines as you were told. It did take a bit if time to get the decision from the pension people. All the work has now been done just the waiting game for you now

 

[bigtrev952]

Hi Big Trev,
I left nearly 3 years ago so the figures are a bit of a blur however, the Doc I saw also said along the same lines as you were told. It did take a bit if time to get the decision from the pension people. All the work has now been done just the waiting game for you now

got rejected, on the basis of they say i have got hearing damage, but they say i have sensonueral hearing loss and tinitus, but they state its 0% down to my service, did'nt expect a lot and thats what i got !!

 

[Sospan]

I have spoken with the Chf Clk, Leg iron and SPVA..the estimates are not good. 4-8 weeks for the ERB decision ( my impact statement is already there) and 6-8 months till discharge if recommended. The desk said they would contact my line manager and if I am able to do my job then they would " probably" leave me there till posting where it will then be reviewed however, they have said..many times, " in the current climate"...blah blah.

The legion said I could be awarded a war pension if deaf in both ears!!..not so in my case. Glasgow were 'chocolate fire guards' so I have joined the Forces Pension society.

It has all come as a bit of a shock and far too quickly. I hate playing the waiting game.

What was the end outcome BVM?

 

[Blue Van Man]

Hi Sospan.

I was retained as is with a review date however, since that date I have now been promoted to Chief and will embark on a new posting to Brize in march. I believe the review of the medical situation still exists but it all worked out OK. I am still trying to get the medics to fully upgrade me as I see no reason why I should be DG'd with a hearing issue when I have a hearing aid to assist. My opinion is; they do not downgrade people who wear spectacles. It is a risk averse society we live in!!