Service Injury - Out of Pocket Expenses?

[carlisleL]

Good morning,

I was injured a few years back during training recce patrol. The warrant officer was leading the patrol at night and got us lost. When we finally reached our objective we were already late for our timing to return, so he decided it would be a good idea to run on the dirt road to cut some time. While running I stepped into a pothole and went down hard, the Warrant had me walk it off before we started to run again, unfortunately I stepped into another pothole and couldn't get up. I was taken to a hospital a few hours away since the MIR at CFB Borden was closed at this hour, when I was given pain meds which made me pass out. I remember being woken up and being told that I was having x-rays done but passed out again immediately. I was sent back to the field on forced rest for several days.

Since then I have been into the MIR at least 40+ times for my right ankle, being in constant pain and an easily re-occuring sprain which would constantly put an end to my physical training. I was always given ibuprofen and sent on my way to return two weeks later and be given more ibuprofen. They refused to send me to physio and even when I made appoints rather than going into sick parade, refused to do anything about the ankle. Earlier this year I was coming off the back of an MSVS and slipped off the flipdown ladder because of the rain/mud and I didn't twist my ankle, just landed as if you were to jump and land. This destroyed my ankle. I can only get around on crutches and without weight bearing at all on the right ankle, and have a CHIT to not walk at all, so far this has been for a few months. I can also no longer drive my own personal vehicle. So I have my spouse driving my personal vehicle to get me to work, take me to my appointments. This has doubled our expenses when it comes to fuel.

So here is my questions:

Am I entitled to compensation for the increased financial strain on my family because of the service injury?
Is there a way for the medical side to provide transportation to and from work/appointments?
Who do I talk to for either of these?

I have been in contact with the Health Claims Financial Clerk, she has no clue and sent it up higher, but it has been three weeks.

Regards,

Carl

 

[George Wallace]

As a former Crewman, these are my reflections as a non-medical or administrative type to your questions :

So here is my questions:

Am I entitled to compensation for the increased financial strain on my family because of the service injury?

No.  Only if you have been awarded a Medical Pension would you be compensated.

Is there a way for the medical side to provide transportation to and from work/appointments?

The Forces will not likely provide you transportation to and from work, but will likely provide transport from the workplace to and from appointments.

Who do I talk to for either of these?

You should be talking to your Chain of Command and your MIR staff about all of this, not us on the internet.  I am quite positive, that if you have been prescribed crutches and given a chit for "No Walking" the MIR staff are already processing the necessary documents and making the necessary bookings to have your ankle looked at by a Specialist. 

I have been in contact with the Health Claims Financial Clerk, she has no clue and sent it up higher, but it has been three weeks.

If this is the case, then they must be doing something for you and your questions here may be moot.

 

[carlisleL]

They have refused to provide me transportation to my medical appointments several times so far. Since my spouse was at work, I was unable to get a drive and had to crutch myself to the MIR, took half an hour, when I shouldn't be walking. I just straight up do not have the funds to pay for a taxi on a daily basis.

I did talk with my chain of command they told me to speak to the MIR, both my RN and my physiotherapist said that they did not know and to speak to the medical orderly room. The person I spoke to in the orderly room also did not have any idea, so she just pushed it to her supervisors. I was hoping someone on here had some personal experience with this and could give me some advice as to who the right people to contact would be.

I do have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon coming up in the next few months.

 

[MikeL]

Does your unit not have a duty driver?


CFB Borden also has a Base Taxi
Base Taxi (0800-1600) 705-424-1200 ext 2255

 

[carlisleL]

Does your unit not have a duty driver?


CFB Borden also has a Base Taxi
Base Taxi (0800-1600) 705-424-1200 ext 2255

The problem with our unit duty vehicle is that they use it to do runs for the canteens, recycling drop offs, costco runs, grocery store runs on a daily basis. So if the vehicle isn't here I am out of luck.

I haven't heard of a base taxi before, I will look into it. Thank you.

 

[Staff Weenie]

If, due to a services related injury - which you are describing - you and your family find yourself undergoing financial distress, you should call the Integrated Personnel Support Centre on base.  Sandi Stapleford is the Services Manager there, at 424-1200 ext 1302.  You don't have to be posted to the IPSC to talk to them or to receive help from them.

As noted by Skeletor, there are also other options on Base.

As well, was a CF 98 done for the incidents where you were injured? Keep a very detailed and accurate paper trail of everything that has transpired, who you talked to, what you were told, witnesses to the injury, etc. If there is a need to go to VAC for a claim later, this will help.

Good luck, and I hope you heal soonest.

 

[carlisleL]

If, due to a services related injury - which you are describing - you and your family find yourself undergoing financial distress, you should call the Integrated Personnel Support Centre on base.  Sandi Stapleford is the Services Manager there, at 424-1200 ext 1302.  You don't have to be posted to the IPSC to talk to them or to receive help from them.

As noted by Skeletor, there are also other options on Base.

As well, was a CF 98 done for the incidents where you were injured? Keep a very detailed and accurate paper trail of everything that has transpired, who you talked to, what you were told, witnesses to the injury, etc. If there is a need to go to VAC for a claim later, this will help.

Good luck, and I hope you heal soonest.

I was a reservist when the injury occured originally. I had a CF98 done up and witness statements, I confirmed that the CF98 was still on my file when I left my Reserve unit for RegF. My paperwork never arrived. I have no medical history before 2010 now, I am in the process of obtaining the civilian side aspect of things. I still know the names of all the witness and the course officer at the time who is now RegF. Just a slow process. I now know that it is a great idea to keep all your paperwork especially when it comes to the medical side. I will take what you told me and make sure those other avenues are covered.

Thank you.

 

[carlisleL]

If, due to a services related injury - which you are describing - you and your family find yourself undergoing financial distress, you should call the Integrated Personnel Support Centre on base.  Sandi Stapleford is the Services Manager there, at 424-1200 ext 1302.  You don't have to be posted to the IPSC to talk to them or to receive help from them.

As noted by Skeletor, there are also other options on Base.

As well, was a CF 98 done for the incidents where you were injured? Keep a very detailed and accurate paper trail of everything that has transpired, who you talked to, what you were told, witnesses to the injury, etc. If there is a need to go to VAC for a claim later, this will help.

Good luck, and I hope you heal soonest.

I ended up calling the IPSC and they now have me in contact with the person that I need to be. Thank you very much for your help.

 

[Staff Weenie]

My pleasure!

They're good people there, they will do their best to help.

 

[Szczep]

If they say No to requests for seing a specialist, make sure you ask (nicely) that they enter it on the med chart  - that your request was met with NO.
Go to med records and get a copy of it. Took me 4 years to get MRI for my injury (x-ray did not show anything) and then a surgery.
Just an advise.

Cheers

 

[Staff Weenie]

For Reservist CF98s, a copy is kept here at DCSM, they are not destroyed. Your unit OR can contact DCSM and talk to the MCpl at 613-996-1444.  That should help in finding one set of records.

As for your Health Records - that might be a bit trickier, as anything done pre electronic health records on CFHIS may be harder to find. It would not have been destroyed, but may have been sent to National Archives when you went Reg F (it shouldn't have, but it's possible).

 

[OldSolduer]

The problem with our unit duty vehicle is that they use it to do runs for the canteens, recycling drop offs, costco runs, grocery store runs on a daily basis. So if the vehicle isn't here I am out of luck.

I haven't heard of a base taxi before, I will look into it. Thank you.

In my small mind the duty vehicle should be prioritized and that priority would be to transport soldiers to appointments etc as the number 1 priority.
Canteen stuff can wait , so can Costco etc. Maybe the CF needs to refocus the "putting people first" on the top of the priority list rather than canteens and recycling programs.