Informal Physical Evaluation Board

IPEB Q & A

Q: I have a question about compensation? A: See this: Compensation Q & A Q: What is my chances to get xx% compensation? A: The serverity of your condition/how many unfitting conditions are submitted/whoever does your boar/what is in your records. It would be a guess on my part at best. Q: I received a military rating < 30%, should I appeal? A: I would, you have nothing to loose, even if they rate you as 0% your severance pay will be the same. Q: I received a military rating > 30%, should I appeal? A: Well you can, however they could drop you below 30% and then you will only receive severance pay.In these cases, you should look at the evidence carefully and decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. (Admins: edit/add as...

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IDES C&P exams not accurately reflecting current conditions.

I just received a copy of my C&P exams done last week and many of my conditions are not accurately reflected based upon my medical records and own accounts. As little as 50% of my symptoms are written down across my C&P exams for mental health, knee injury, heart failure. When many of my symptoms or limitations are accurately reflected in my medical records. How difficult will it be to appeal this inaccuracy. And are any ongoing medical records such as BH taken into account after C&P exams are completed? Does the VA strictly look at C&P exams or all medical records as well?

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COAD Question

Need help with the process because my PEBLO and lawyer give me two different answers. I received my informal 199 back with 60%DOD, 100% VA Recommend Permanant medical retirement. I am at 16 years, 5 months of active service. I wanted to put in for COAD and already have everything signed and ready to submit. My lawyer told me I can't request COAD unless I exhaust all appeals. At this point, I don't disagree with the fact that I am unfit (had pulmonary embolism requiring lifelong anticoagulants) however; I don't want to drag this out for another 8 months. Additionally, my lawyer was very blunt to let me know that my chances of COAD are not great. He said that usually COAD gets approved for 1-2 years. In my case, I am asking for over 3...

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Need Some Help

I thought I posed elsewhere but do not see it so I will post again here: All: I received my PEB findings and they came back fit. However, 2 of the board members said UNFIT in their write up and 1 (the MO) said FIT. Also, a number of things raise a flag: 1) My designator is not correct. I am a staff officer but it has 1100 (URL). 2) The board met on X day in October but the write-ups were signed prior to the board meeting by 5 and 6 days. 3) I have proposed VA ratings and in the document, it states: your service has found you unfit. I was also enrolled in VR/E as the counselor said I qualified. My PEBLO and VSO are confused and said they have never seen this before. So, could there be an administrative mistake? What options do I have...

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PCS'ing before PEB?

I was hoping someone could help me. I'm not very far into this process. I posted something similar in another forum, but I feel like they are avoiding sending me to a PEB so that they can make me PCS first and was hoping for any kind of guidance. I was a top sailor, I put on first in 4 years and was picked up for STA-21. About a year into the STA-21 program I started having severe issues with sleep. This led to depression, I then lost a friend to suicide which made that worse and my serious sleep issues we finally found out were from undiagnosed narcolepsy. After sending the medical paperwork to the nearest MTF I was recommended for LIMDU and all I have so far is an AMERB report. (I'm pissed about the back pain because that was a fuck...

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BDD question for deciding LDES or IDES

Good afternoon all, My EAS is 5/31/23 however I have found myself facing a medboard that may end up pushing it until what I guess is September. My question is, I am withing the 90-180 window for the BDD. Is it possible for me to do all of the VA exams on my own, in that window because my EAS is so close while concurrently going through the LDES so that way I spend minimal extra time in the service? If so, it seems as if LDES would be more beneficial for me specifically if I'm proactive on getting those exams done and have it concurrent with the board.

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PEB found “fit for duty” because I am a physician

just received my DA 199 today and was disappointed (but not surprised) that the informal PEB decided to find me fit for duty. I am in a somewhat unique situation because I am a doctor in the army, and they will do almost anything to retain doctors in order to avoid “losing” out on their investment. My MEB/NARSUM said I didn’t meet retention standards. I was sent to the PEB having multiple people tell me not to expect an unfit ruling because of my job. The PEB asked for a statement of fitness- which they were assuming would be from my hospital supervisor stating that I can continue to work despite my condition. I got a memo from my company commander (not hospital supervisor, but in my direct chain of command for my actual assignment)...

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What will trigger a PEB?

Hello all! Curious as to what will trigger a PEB initiation from the MEB. What are the specific criteria for your conditions to be submitted to IDES to determine suitability for service? Thanks

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Oldest trick in the book

Hey everyone, I found this site a few days after signing my NARSUM and now I'm playing the fool as I realize I should have requested an IMR or appealed my NARSUM but instead I took my PEBLOs advice which was "I would just sign it, your condition is so bad there is no way they don't retire you" but after the stories I've just read on here, listening to the PEBLO generally isn't ever a good idea. In terms of my NARSUM, they weren't exactly wrong, but they weren't also exactly right. There were a few discrepancies between what my PCM said, what my specialist said, and what the QTC doc said. Any advice on what to do if I receive less than favorable findings? From what I've gathered my only recourse left is to appeal it to the FPEB if need...

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Opting out of MEB

I have reached my 20 years of service in the reserves. My MEB is in the NDES (non-duty related) system. Does anyone know if I can opt out and simply retire on my years of service?

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Pending VA ratings - did the PEB find me unfit? Timeline for ratings?

Hi everyone. I was told that my case went to the PEB on 22 NOV and then to the VA for ratings on 7 DEC. If it was passed along to the VA, does that mean the PEB found me unfit? Also, how long is it taking the VA to determine ratings these days? I only have one disqualifying condition (behavioral health). Thank you!

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Already rated 100% and went through MEB C&P exams. Examiner was asking about all my conditions I am not referred for.

Hello everybody. I am finally in my MEB process in the Army National Guard, after already being rated 100% after leaving active duty. I am being referred for PTSD (70%). I did not file any claims for my MEB as my lawyer told me this could cause my rating to be impacted and I’m already 100%. Well, I just had my MEB C&P exams and the examiner for my general exam was asking me about all my conditions and going through the full eval process even though I did not file a claim. I asked my lawyer if I should be concerned and they said I shouldn’t be but that it was weird I got a full exam. Does anybody else have any experience with this?

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Questions about Med Boards

Hi guys, I am currently in the medical board process, was recommended directly into medboard, no LIMDU, for Major Depressive Disorder. The process was started November 2021 VA Appointments in January 2022 Signed MEDBOARD Package Submitted: 11SEP2022 Initial Unfit finding: 02DEC2022 (was actually in October 2022, but PEBLO failed to inform me.) The PEBLO, only gave me my initial Unfit findings, the VA has not given me a rating, I've checked the VA website for claims and appeals, and I have nothing there at the moment. My current intent, is to appeal, as I am intent on retiring on my 20 year anniversary on June 10th. Now I'm wondering, how long is the VA going to take on my claims for the rating. After that, how long does the appeal...

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IPEB results

I just received my IPEB ratings 30% dod PDRL and 100% VA. I’m debating if I should appeal based on some things. So quick background: 2 of my 5 referred conditions for the MEB/PEB were deemed unfit and not combat related, the remaining 3 deemed fit all fall under mental health and every attorney I talked to agrees I should've been deemed unfit for those as well. The board's reasoning for saying my conditions weren't combat related could definitely be challenged and more than likely won since I have more evidence from medics I deployed with that I didn't think was necessary at the time to get. So here's where I'm trying to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.. If I appeal I could ask for my conditions to be combat related with more...

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LDES IPEB Question

Does anyone know if the IPEB is quicker while going through an LDES instead of the IDES?

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Arthritis Questions

Good morning, I am active duty Air Force, been serving for 14 years. Around the end of 2015 I began to have back issues (lower back pain, sciatic never pain). I went to physical therapy (didn’t really help), then they sent me to pain manager for lower back injections (I had 5). During this time, I was on and off of a profile for physical fitness but, never had any primary duty restrictions. The pin management specialist indicated, after reviewing my MRI, that they believed I have arthritis. I finished the treatment and my PCM later prescribed meloxicam (an NSAID). I took it regularly at first but, have now been switched to and as needed basis (I take it 2-3 times per month, with no side effects). I have not had a back injection since...

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Skin Condition

Good Morning Everyone, I just discovered this forum this morning from Reddit and had a few questions regarding this entire process. I was notified this week that I would be undergoing a MEB to determine my fit for duty status due to my skin condition which worsens with shaving. Last year I went through a 3-4 month process of seeing a dermatologist to get a 5 year shaving waiver since I get scars and ingrown hairs constantly from shaving. I didn't know at the time that this would trigger a MEB at all and am confused on what happens next. For background, I am in the Air Force Reserves and am an E4. I also filed a separate VA claim for mental health and this skin condition so I am not sure if that's what caused the MEB to come up or not...

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New Condition While On PEB

Wondering if anyone has any insight on this; I was referred to MEB/PEB for one issue, and I am currently awaiting findings, but I finally got another diagnosis that is even more unfit than my referred condition. Will they have to postpone my PEB to add this other condition? Or can they just add in my extra paperwork and it still get reviewed in the same time frame? I’m AD Navy, so our cases are already backlogged. Not really looking to add anymore time onto the 4+ months I already have.

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Just signed Form 618... How much longer do I have before I get my DOD/VA Ratings

Currently going through the IDES process active duty Space Force. I just signed my Form 618. What is the timeline to see results on fit/unfit? How long does it take from here to get ratings from the DOD and VA? I know my PEBLO has told me there is currently a backlog and I could be looking at a couple of months easily before we hear anything back. Just wanted to reach out to see what other people's current experiences have been

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Found Fit For Duty : PEB

Yesterday, I was notified by the PEBLO office that I have been found fit for duty after completion of the informal PEB. I was referred to a MEB for my lower back. I have a bulging, degenerating disc with arthritis along with nerve damage. I have been on LIMDU for over a year now, and I have gone through all avenues of treatment that has been provided. I cannot serve in my MOS due to the severity of the pain and limitations it gives me. I was completely expecting to be found unfit for duty, so the results were very shocking. If anyone has any advice on how I could argue the findings, that would be greatly appreciated. I’m going to speak with my attorney as soon as possible to fight it but I was hoping for some advice from anyone who’s...

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Ft Gordon, PTSD IDES Questions

I have been in the Army for almost 5 years now. I had an incident happen at my last duty station 2.5 years ago and have developed Chronic PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Persistent Depression Disorder, and Adjustment Disorder. Last month my commander has recommended me to be evaluated to get medically discharged. October 27 I was given my P3 status. I'm just wondering what I should expect. What kind of timeline? Is there a site I can look at for the MEB updates? What kind of advice would you give me? With my anxiety I feel like I am clueless and I don't want to mess anything up or get the wrong ideas. What happens after I get my P3? I have been getting seen for these problems for over two years. Therapy and multiple medications with...

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Retirement instead of Medical Board?

I’m at 22 years and stationed overseas with a DEROS in June ‘24. Am I able to retire instead of going through the med board process? Appreciate any help or info.

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Appeal after acceptance

A legal question. Can a member who accepted the PEB results appeal to the BCMR to correct an error?

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VARR decided a week ago - now what?

I submitted a VARR which was decided a week ago. va.gov website said a claim was opened and closed on the same day, so I called va. Sure enough, the va guy told me that a one time "recon" request was decided on that day and that it would be sent back to the PEB in 1-2 days. I called my Peblo today and he couldn't tell me anything since my VARR results haven't shown up yet in "ePEB" (whatever that is) and he had no update. If it only takes 1-2 days for the PEB to receive the VARR decision and forward it to PDA, I'm wondering why no one has any updates. I called my MSC and he just told me to call my Peblo and the va, so everyone is just sending me in circles. Is this typical? I'm starting to worry my VARR results have been lost in...

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The ABCMR ordered a PEB...What to expect?

Greetings! The information on this site is invaluable. I have fairly unique circumstances, and I am looking for any insight into the process I am currently undergoing. Long story short; I was discharged for PTSD in 2012. I was VA Service connected for PTSD at the time of my discharge, but I was not given a severance or a medical retirement, or processing through IDES when I separated. After 3 years awaiting a decision, the ABCMR has granted relief on my behalf, and as such, I am currently undergoing a MEB/PEB at the boards direction. My PEBLO first made contact 1 week ago, to introduce herself, and to explain the disposition of my case. She informed me that the board had granted relief, and that I would being going through the LDES...

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AD NAVY FINDINGS - SEEKING KNOWLEDGABLE ADVICE

⚪️PEB FINDINGS⚪️ AD USN (MH related) Timeline: MEB start- 18OCT2021 QTC Exams- 1-8DEC2021 Sent to PEB- 20DEC2021 PROPOSED VA Ratings - 01APR2022 UNFIT notice- 19MAY2022 Received/Reviewed findings- 27MAY2022 VA% - 100% (not P&T) DOD% - 0% I’m absolutely stunned. I was referred to MEB for chronic migraines, 3 different MH diagnoses, and OSA. The only unfit condition from DOD was migraines and they rated it at 0% despite having a shit ton of supporting evidence of severity. VA also rated my migraines at 0%. I’m meeting with my attorney on Tuesday, but here’s my thought process at the moment. EDUCATED and EXPERIENCED insight is appreciated: My wife and I are moving back to our home state as soon as possible. She’s 3 months pregnant...

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