If I’m often passing out, would the military consider Med boarding me if they do or don’t find a cause?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 14:47:27 -0400

Last Monday I passed behind the wheel of my car and totaled my car at the PX..the BDE DR set me up with 3 referrals radiology neurology ? And cardiology...they put a heart monitor to find out if it was my heart they believe it could be seizures ...my question is because I’m passing out would they consider Med boarding me if they do or don’t find a cause ?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2021 2:57 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 14:57:14 -0400

The process of the Med Board will be initiated by your medical provider, depending on what they find. The only person that will tell you yay or nay for Med Board is your doctor. Talk with them. Anything said outside of that would be pure speculation.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2021 3:16 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 15:16:51 -0400

Depends on the cause.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Aug 26 at 2021 3:19 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 15:19:02 -0400

Right now just focus on getting the tests and diagnosis done. They won't refer anything until they can identify the cause and potential solutions. But once they sort everything out it is possible this may be sent to a med board but you are extremely early in the process. Just focus on now and worry about next week when you get there.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Aug 26 at 2021 6:02 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 18:02:06 -0400

It will ultimately depend on what they find out from testing, labs, etc. No one is going to know except your provider once they exhaust all options to determine the cause.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Aug 26 at 2021 6:19 PM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 18:19:24 -0400

What you have is typically called Syncope and it is typically classified as four types. See Clev Clinic site link. After 31 years in the Army Reserve, during my 2016 - 17 deployment, I went through a series of Syncope events, along with migraine headaches / panic attacks. I was redeployed from Kuwait and sent from Fort Hood to Fort Campbell WWC for a few months until I 'retired'. I still work but my Army Reserve 'retirement' will kick in a few more years at 58.

I can't tell you how demoralizing it was for me to go from always ready to not knowing when I was going to have an event that would put me in the Intensive Care. It was not how I wanted my career to end, but, it is what happened.

Ultimately I had a enlarged aortic root stem that would caused this problem, also had genes associated with this condition for all my kids to check and a family history of sudden cardiac death for Uncles and a Grandpa that I was not aware of until these events occurred.

If you are on active duty they will medically work to figure it out, don't leave active duty without knowing the likely cause and what treatments you will need.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17536-syncope

Syncope: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Learn more about what about syncope including the types and treatment from the doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Aug 27 at 2021 7:40 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 19:40:15 -0400

You are asking for a medical opinion