How Many Years Of Training Before Surgery?

Injured Florida Army National Guard soldier while active duty for training. I am now disabled, unable to work.?

• During Advanced Individal Training for the Army, after completing Basic Training, In August of 2009 I was injured during a PT test from one soldier tripping me on the run. I got back up and passed the PT test. That day I went to the hospital, they told me I had sprained my ankle, 2-3 days light duty. After 3 days, i went to the soldier clinic because i had no improvement. Again I was told 2-3 days light duty, stay off of it, etc. After those 3 days, I went back to the hospital, again showing no improvement. Finally a doctor had decided that my injury was more than a sprain and ordered x-ray's and a cast for my foot, the X-Ray showed a fracture, I can't tell you exactly what it was, it's been about a year, and they also ordered an MRI to check my soft tissue for injuries. From August till the end of October I was in a cast until I was finally able to have my MRI. They cut my cast, did an MRI, and stuck me in a CAM Boot Brace. The MRI showed a posterior tibial tendon rupture and I was waiting for a call from my physician. I graduated training November 11th 2009, as an Honor Graduate. During my out processing I was still wearing my brace, and I asked the E-5 Sergeant in charge of out processing what I am supposed to do about my foot, and I had heard from a friend back home something about an LOD (Line of Duty). The E-5 told me "No, we don't do those here. Your unit will do that for you when you get back to them." And I headed home 4 days later. Because of that, I have been fighting ever since to get my LOD done, as the unit where I was injured as was supposed to do it. This July 2010 my LOD finally came through and I have been able to finally see doctors for my foot because my Tricare insurance was taken away when I was taken off active duty and went home to my unit, and it was just reinstated for my foot problems. I have seen multiple foot doctors and have been repetitively told I need surgery, I was also told that the surgery could have been prevented if the issue had been taken care of in a timely matter, or it would be a less severe surgical procedure, just a tendon tightening, but the surgery I need now only has a 50/50 chance of being successful, it involves replacing the tendon in my ankle with one from my toes, so I will be losing the ability to move my toes in my left foot for the rest of my life and also I need a bone graft from my pelvis to be wedged into my foot. But now Tricare has authorized me for my surgery, but my current unit won't allow me to have the procedure done. I need this surgery, I have been in pain every day since August 2009, I have been unable to work, No one will hire someone who has an ankle as messed up as mine, I am unable to stand for periods of time, run, or walk even moderate distances. The only income I have is my drill checks, for the 2-4 days a month at my unit. I had to move back in with my parents, thank the lord for their help, if it wasn't for them I would be on the street and my unit couldn't care less. I'm trying to figure out if I deserve some kind of compensation, I was told by multiple people I deserve Incapacitation pay since I was injured while on duty and am not unable to work. I've also been told I deserve reimbursement for my average income I would be to make since I graduated from AIT (Advanced Individual Training) since I was never supposed to be released from Active Duty until I was completely rehabilitated. But now It's going to be almost 2 years of physical therapy, and I will never be able to run again. Should I see legal council for what needs to be done with the army to receive my surgery and proper care? I have called my unit and my battalion every other day for what next week will make, an entire year and I have had little to no progress. I cannot continue to survive on 150 dollars a month. Am I eligible for disability now? Incapacitation Pay? My base pay from the army? None of these questions my unit or anyone has been able to answer for me. I have documentation of everything that has happened. If you have any further questions about my issue please ask, Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. These are X-Rays comparing my two feet, My left foot is my injured foot, and my right foot is how my bones should be. Left: http://img339.imageshack.us/i/leftfoot1.jpg/ Right: http://img7.imageshack.us/i/rightfoot1.jpg/

• Answer:

  GO to the VA Hospital! counsel NOT council!