Background: I rx'd a Class 2 in 2019, rocking the Class 3 until April 2024 (just need it for airborne crew duties). A VA claim I submitted back during COVID finally went through and now I'm 70% disabled (50% major depressive with a healthy mix of anxiety and insomnia). I need to figure out a plan to renew my medical due to work requirements, how hosed am I now that I have a formal diagnosis? Is it time for a career change? I assume special issuance takes over a year even if I have my ducks in a row.
Depends on how much effort you are willing to put into getting your medical. You’ll need updated documentation from the right specialists. Depending on how those go, you may get through.
I was seeing a VA doc up until last June, I haven't been prescribed any anti-depressants in over a year - I already reached out to them but they are unable to fill out any "fit for duty" paperwork so not sure what documentation I could provide to the FAA to help my case
Depends on what the VA C&P diagnosis letter actually states, what’s in your .mil health records, and what, if any, treatment you are doing now and how it’s documented. Insomnia can be a challenge depending on what causes it. Documented reactive insomnia is different than undocumented chronic insomnia. What you will need is the entire packet the VA sent you with your award letter that treats each diagnosis as a line item and has the justification in it as a starting point. If I were in your shoes, tonight I would reach out to Doc Bruce via the instructions on his webpage and ask for an initial consult. If Bruce says it is possible, it’s very likely so; same goes for the opposite. Bruce will help you help yourself get setup for success so long as you are completely honest with him and so long as you follow his advice. If he says jump, you just ask how high while launching from the floor. http://www.aeromedicaldoc.com/how-to-start.html If it’s your desire to be able to fly under BasicMed and there’s significant doubt on your ability to successfully navigate your next second or third class medical, do NOT apply for the second or third class medical. ETA: Bruce’s fee to consult is extremely reasonable and worth 10x what he charges.
Does 50% major depressive fall under here? A mental health disorder, limited to an established medical history or clinical diagnosis of— A personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts; A psychosis, defined as a case in which an individual — Has manifested delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of psychosis; or May reasonably be expected to manifest delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of psychosis; A bipolar disorder; or A substance dependence within the previous 2 years, as defined in §67.307(a)(4) of 14 Code of Federal Regulations
I vote find something else to do. Particularly, something that doesn’t involve the responsibility for the lives of others around you. Perhaps learning to writing code
*dry heaves* nobody gee chucks "stumbles" into a 70pct rating; spare me the ingénue shtick. These "PTSD-adjacent", non-TBI, non-limb/organ loss, high % claims are way out of hand. We dishonor our wounded and taxpayers alike.
"Good morning. Want to play Global Thermonuclear War?" ********** Anybody who is 70% disabled with mental issues either should absolutely not be flying any type of aircraft, or is milking the VA gravy train for all it's worth and doesn't deserve to be flying any kind of aircraft.
Totally depends on the "What for" breakdown on the award letter, but super likely to need the HIMs pscyhiatrist's eval and will certainly include review of the VAH file and Service record Medical file.
OP didn’t say they were discharged BECAUSE of the condition. You can have a >50% disability rating without being forced out. Heck, you can get out of the active military and be a reservist with a >50% rating.
my buddy was at 70% upon discharge but nobody knew it until he out-processed with the Naval Hospital and the VA got a hold of his record.
Affirm, was on flight status my whole time in the mil and had just finished my 6th deployment 3-months before ETS so didn’t have time to do much disability stuff prior to discharge. Had other unit personnel recommend I go see the VA after I got out but I got busy, put it off etc, then finally spoke with a VSO. Fast forward to now and bam I’m for sure gonna lose the medical. Bummer
I mean it’s totally my fault for not thinking ahead about it effecting my medical. Seems like the juice isn’t worth the squeeze with wait times and all that. I would have a lapse in coverage by the time I got everything gathered up and put in the queue
