How can I claim medical expenses for an injury that occurred at basic training?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 23:50:18 -0500

Originally Posted on Feb 24, 2019.

I got injured at basic training but didn't realize it would get worse later. I had seen the doctor while as basic training and was given pain killer as medicines which then helped me feel better.

By the time I was completing AIT, I started to get the pain again and it kept getting worse after I was completely out of the training. I got it checked by the civilian doctor again, he did MRI's and X-RAY's and found out that I have Spondylolisthesis on L5 S1, in simpler terms my back is screwed which is affecting my lower part of the body to do regular activities due to pain.

As doctor suggested, I started doing physiotherapy but after I started receiving the bills, I stopped going as I will not be able to pay the dues if I continue going there.

I remember when I was at basic training, one of Army Liaison told us that if you get injured at basic training and if the same injury happens again after the training, you can claim for medical expenses for your civilian medical bills . So I wanted to know if anybody knows the process to claim for medical expenses and can explain it here, that would be very helpful.

Please note, I am not looking for disability claims. Thanks

==============================================================

Updates as of July 13, 2019

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my updates on this injury and the case. Its a long post, so please bare with me.

So, after I read all the answers here, I reached out to my platoon SFC and S1 explaining my situation in end of Feb 2019. I applied for temporary medical profile and asked about processing LOD request. But meanwhile another unfortunate incident happened. I got hurt again during the drill at my unit while lifting some heavy weight stuff at work at the beginning of Mar 2019. Please note that at this point of time, I had applied for temporary profile but hadn't got it approved, so I had to do all the work like any other soldier, no excuses. After the incident, I told this to my platoon SFC, but since everybody was in rush to go home, nobody cared about it and I was ignored. After the drill was over, I reached out to my another platoon SFC and chain of commands, S1, 1SG to let them know that I got hurt. I was in so much pain that I couldn't even sit or stand or sleep properly for more than a week. Then, 1SG asked me to send all the paperwork for LOD and I did all of this in March. Since then, I have been following up with them every now and then to get the latest updates on my LOD request but looks like nobody cares. Earlier, I was getting responses like we are working on it, looking into it and now I don't even get a response for my email, to put it simply, they are ignoring me. Also, please note that, during this time from March till today, I have done physiotherapy, Epidural Steroid Injection procedure, have been doing chiropractic sessions almost twice or thrice a week, all of which hasn't really given me a lot of relief. I have already spent thousands of dollars out of my pocket to get treated but my unit doesn't care and they know all about this. All they care about is, if your nails are cut, hair is cut, if your mustache is as per army regulations etc but they don't like to deal with real problems of a soldier.

I had also applied for enlistment bonus in Jan 2019 for which also I don't get any updates from my unit. As per the contract, I should be getting some percentage of the bonus once I am out of training but its been almost an year I am out of AIT, nothing yet. At least, this could have saved me paying for some of the medical bills.

I think that they don't want to help me with either LOD or enlistment bonus because both involves money that is gonna come out of my units pocket and hence they are ignoring.

Can someone please suggest what I should do next? I am not complaining about anything or my unit but I am trying to put here as much details as possible to get the right suggestion from everyone here in this forum.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2019 12:40 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 00:40:01 -0500

Response by LTC John Mohor made Feb 25 at 2019 12:40 AM

LTC John Mohor — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 00:40:15 -0500

You need to inform your chain of command and unit administrators regarding this medical issue. A 15-6 investigation like the old report of survey is probably what’s gonna be required. You didn’t happen to keep copies of your sick call slips and or medical paperwork after you were seen in training did you? It’ll help if you did but start now maintaining your own personal copy of both your medical/ dental records and all other Army personnel related records(pay, promotion, awards, orders EVANS etc.). It’s on you most of the time to initially prove stuff. Also Never give up your last copy of any document always keep your personal copy. Good luck! Let your NCos and Officers start earning their part of the pay that covers “ taking care of Soldiers”.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Feb 25 at 2019 1:50 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 01:50:03 -0500

Keep in mind to submit everything on this matter to a secure location...laptop, securable thumb drive, etc. After you separate you will be able to file a claim with the VA for service connection.

I cannot impress enough the importance of what LTC Mohor mentioned. KEEP AT LEAST ONE COPY OF EVERY PIECE OF PAPER WITH YOUR NAME ON IT THROUGHOUT YOUR SERVICE. You never know when you will need it.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2019 10:12 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 10:12:02 -0500

To get line of duty care, your unit must issue a Line of Duty (LOD) determination.
TRICARE is finicky, so may argue that your condition is a disease, not caused by an injury during training.
It may be prudent to ensure the LOD includes identifying an injury occurred, in addition to the treatment for the condition.

https://tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/NGRMandFamilies/LODCare

Line of Duty Care | TRICARE

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2019 9:42 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 09:42:34 -0500

Documentation. As long as there's a history of care by the army you'll be fine. The only time you're going to have an issue claiming it when you do your disability compensation is if there's no record of anything. You'll get examined by a VA-affiliated doctor for all claims you make when you get out, but it's more difficult to claim if there's no paper trail. At the end of the day it's a judgement call by the VA. However, because I'm familiar with Spondylolisthesis, I can tell you that it's fairly easy to prove, and since you have a history of care it'll be less of a headache than things of a lesser nature. When you go to ETS you'll get a copy of your medical records on a CD. Guard it with your life.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2019 5:46 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 05:46:12 -0400

Updates as of July 13, 2019

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my updates on this injury and the case. Its a long post, so please bare with me.

So, after I read all the answers here, I reached out to my platoon SFC and S1 explaining my situation in end of Feb 2019. I applied for temporary medical profile and asked about processing LOD request. But meanwhile another unfortunate incident happened. I got hurt again during the drill at my unit while lifting some heavy weight stuff at work at the beginning of Mar 2019. Please note that at this point of time, I had applied for temporary profile but hadn't got it approved, so I had to do all the work like any other soldier, no excuses. After the incident, I told this to my platoon SFC, but since everybody was in rush to go home, nobody cared about it and I was ignored. After the drill was over, I reached out to my another platoon SFC and chain of commands, S1, 1SG to let them know that I got hurt. I was in so much pain that I couldn't even sit or stand or sleep properly for more than a week. Then, 1SG asked me to send all the paperwork for LOD and I did all of this in March. Since then, I have been following up with them every now and then to get the latest updates on my LOD request but looks like nobody cares. Earlier, I was getting responses like we are working on it, looking into it and now I don't even get a response for my email, to put it simply, they are ignoring me. Also, please note that, during this time from March till today, I have done physiotherapy, Epidural Steroid Injection procedure, have been doing chiropractic sessions almost twice or thrice a week, all of which hasn't really given me a lot of relief. I have already spent thousands of dollars out of my pocket to get treated but my unit doesn't care and they know all about this. All they care about is, if your nails are cut, hair is cut, if your mustache is as per army regulations etc but they don't like to deal with real problems of a soldier.

I had also applied for enlistment bonus in Jan 2019 for which also I don't get any updates from my unit. As per the contract, I should be getting some percentage of the bonus once I am out of training but its been almost an year I am out of AIT, nothing yet. At least, this could have saved me paying for some of the medical bills.

I think that they don't want to help me with either LOD or enlistment bonus because both involves money that is gonna come out of my units pocket and hence they are ignoring.

Can someone please suggest what I should do next? I am not complaining about anything or my unit but I am trying to put here as much details as possible to get the right suggestion from everyone here in this forum.