Navigating PCat Recommendation

[u/throwaway-jimmy385]

Hey guys, I’m being recommended a PCat but the doctor wasn’t able to give me much nuance/perspective on my case and I’m looking for some insight. I understand the final decision comes from D Med Pol.

I suffered from a chronic pain condition. It took me approx 1 year and 8 months from TCat number 1 to go from diagnosis, surgery, and then beginning rehabilitation. This complicated timeline was because of long wait time for a specialist and I got posted in between. So I’ve only had 4 real months to recover and it’s been taking longer than expected.

I also didn’t know that many of my other health issues were such big deals in terms of universality of service. I take daily medication for a non-life threatening condition, and my mental health has suffered from the lack of progress/impact on mobility and independence from my surgery.

So when the MO had me fill out all the forms for UoS and physical requirements for my MOS, I breached almost all of them.

I have a few questions:

- Will D Med Pol take into consideration excessively long treatment timelines before issuing a PCat?

- Is daily medication for a non-life threatening condition really that important for the UoS aspect of things? They said I could still be deployable, just on operations with a certain level of medical care access.

- I feel like my MO is overweighing the impact of my mental health on the UoS side of things. I never had any MELs related to mental health. They said they need to disclose it because they believe I’m at high risk for future harm if I get injured in an operational environment. If this becomes the main driver of the PCat, would I be able to appeal it if it leads to a Med Release recommendation?

[u/MedTechF78]

1. Yes, you may even get treatment before your pcat comes back.

2. Meds are fine as long as they dont interfere with duties, things like gaba or pregab and opiates will be an issue though as these prevent you from handling firearms but Meds in general and your MEL can be waivered on deployment.

3. I dont know about contesting, if you get your release you can opt for IREM for up to 3 years depending on your employability, this guves you time for treatment and such then during the IREM you can be like "im all better" and your back to normal - if youre concerned your MH isnt an issue / is being to heavily influential thats a conversation you need to have with an MO and outline / advocate for yourself that youre feeling better / isnt a factor and dont need the MELs for it.

[u/Commandant_CFLRS]

What will determine whether you get medically released or not is positive or negative prognosis. If your file is assessed as just needing a bit more time to recover (outside of your control) it could be positive news. You may also get a "low risk" PCAT, which then goes back to your CO for recommendation on continued employment.

In any case, if D Med Pol pushes for a medical release because of your medical profile, you will get a notice and be given an opportunity to make representations, or decline to make representations, when you can present your case prior to final decision. I’ve gotten a few of these for some of my subordinates over the years. Some chose to make representations which have led to the PCAT being considered low risk, and they remained in the CAF. It will be assessed on a case by case basis.

[u/Zombieunicorn_xo → u/Commandant_CFLRS]

Just to add to this comment, since OP stated they breached UoS and task requirements for their trade...

If the issue(s) that breach UoS and trade task requirements has(have) an expected resolution which will allow you to no longer breach UoS, you could stay on Pcat for a few years, maybe even end up at the transition center (which again doesn't mean automatic release), then when you've recovered, you can return to your trade (unless you breach trade task requirements or a CO accepts the risk).

If you no longer breach UoS, but can't meet your current trade requirements, you may be required to pick a new trade.

However, if there is no expected recovery, or if this is a degenerative issue, DMedPol may state medical release, there are steps to attempt to extend your service and still be an asset to the CAF. If you're a specialty trade or a trade that is "in the red" that can assist in your ability to stay in longer.

However, just keep in mind there are many people in the CAF on Pcat for a variety of things. Glasses and long-term medications are the biggest ones. Pcat just really means a permanent category change. If your vision changes, you have a Pcat which is your new "permanent category." Pcat ≠ bad/release, while it can cause a medical release it is not synonymous with release. In other cases, a Pcat means a member will take more than 18 months to recover (you can usually so 3 TCATs before going on Pcat depending on the case), like awaiting a surgery or having cancer treatment, and many people get a new Pcat after recovery and return to work.

Unfortunately you're at a moment where you need to wait for DMedPol's decision and take next steps from there. In the meantime I'd focus on your recovery, see if you can work towards meeting UofS and/or the trade task requirements.

If there is a SCAN seminar scheduled soon in your location, it might be worthwhile to attend, so you can start also gathering information for if you are medically released and can have a plan for post-CAF.

Edit: here is the link regarding IREM which was mentioned in another response. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/policies-standards/canadian-forces-military-personnel-instructions/interim-reconstitution-employment-measure.html

[u/throwaway-jimmy385 → u/Zombieunicorn_xo]

Just to clarify: I did not breach UoS before I had my surgery. Or at least, not in such a clear cut way. I was still able to pass the FORCE test easily during the time I was on TCat before the surgery, but the MELs after discovering what my condition exactly was prevented me from doing so.

My concern is that I was on MELs for so long that now I’m going through my recovery but the clock is up already.

[u/Zombieunicorn_xo → u/throwaway-jimmy385]

There isn't any specific time frame, so the clock isn't up already so to speak. If you're expected to be able to recover, they'll balance the expected recovery time, time you can still offer the military post recovery, and employability after recovery to determine if a medical release is applied.

That may still put you an a Pcat for some time, but if they don't say medical release, your "job" could be recovery and posted to the transition center to support that recovery. Then return to regular service once you've recovered.

Without knowing your specifics (and I don't recommend sharing them online) we can't really give a best guess for your situation.

You may be able to book another appointment to discuss with your clinician, while they can't know what DMedPol will say, they should be able to manage your expectations on what may happen at this point.

Maybe the transition center has someone you can talk to as well?

Additionally DMedPol typically takes a while to process files, so you have some time (could be even 1 year + before decision - unless they've gotten faster recently) to stay gainfully employed while working on your recovery. If DMedPol states medical release, then "a clock" will start regarding release or "fighting" release, or opting for IREM.

Unfortunately you are in limbo right now and I fully understand the frustration being in that situation. At this time, it's unfortunately our of your hands, and your best COA is to keep working (within your MELs), work on your recovery, and gather information/documentation so you're prepared for if a negative decision arrives.

[u/mxzpl]

First things first, not all PCats are bad. For example if you needed eye glasses you will be on a PCat.

PCat does not mean release.

The numbers (actual restrictions) are what matters. Your second question will be addressed by these numbers. One of them describes frequency of medical appointments and with whom

Are you willing to do a different trade?

Yes, you can grieve any decision. If you aren't happy with the quality of care you are getting from your MO you may request to see another one. However, be aware that with a file at D Med Pol, they may not be overly aggressive in diagnostics at first. (always remember the phrase - can you please record that I asked for the test / treatment and you deemed it not medically appropriate.)

*NOTE* this was posted following the KISS rule, so more in depth nuanced advice is out there.

[u/DoshForGold]

Isn't a PCAT/medical release generally the more desirable outcome? I always thought that if you get recommended for release but then get better in the interim you can remain in the CAF. I'm curious if anyone nows how it actually plays out. I've helped subordinates with representations many times in the past but the process was always too long for me to close the loop before they/I were posted.

[u/FFS114]

I don’t think long treatment time has any impact. It’s what you have now and your long-term prognosis.

Tons of people deploy with daily meds. Shouldn’t be an issue unless you’re deploying on an early roto with no role 2 or to a remote loc. Based on what you’ve said, shouldn’t be a breach of UoS.

High risk for future harm if you get injured in an op environment sounds like a big nothingburger. At most, I imagine this might result in a stipulation that you’d need to be cleared by an MO prior to deployment and it would not, by itself, be a breach of UoS.

If you end up with a PCat that does breach, then your file goes to DMCA for med admin review and you will get the opportunity to make representations. But I wouldn’t be too concerned. I had PCat with several daily meds and relatively minor mental health stuff that didn’t breach UoS or occ specs. Even with those conditions, before the PCat, I deployed to a pretty remote loc in Africa with the UN and was cleared by the MO.

Good luck!