Started reading the forum yesterday. I’ve been in for 18 years and 7 months. I’m Active Duty AF. My PCM advised me at yesterday she was going to push for an MEB due to my back pain and the fact I haven’t PT tested in three years. I also have substantial hearing loss/tinnitus and migraines in which I receive Botox and Aimovig, however they effect my duties. Do you think I’ll be able to push this and delay it until the 20 year mark? I don’t have a ton of leave saved up either. Thanks in advance!
18 Year MEB Outlook
- Thread starter Strangert
- Start date
From what I've been told, if you are over 18yrs you stand a great chance to make it to 20. I believe PLD been around for a while, and you request it when you go get your results from your Peblo. In your case you would be asking to stay until you are retirement eligible. I had 4 options:
a. Accept the findings.
b. Accept the findings and submit a request for PLD.
c. Request a onetime VA rate reconsideration.
d. Demand a formal hearing.
I'm Navy be the process should be the same.
a. Accept the findings.
b. Accept the findings and submit a request for PLD.
c. Request a onetime VA rate reconsideration.
d. Demand a formal hearing.
I'm Navy be the process should be the same.
Yea, from what I’ve read my best plan is to keep fighting and appealing until I hit the 20 year mark. I’m going to start saving my leave and push signature deadlines to the max.
I also just put on E-8 in February which may complicate things. I have a 2 year service commitment (Feb 2021). My 20 year mark is in December of 2020. We’ll see how this plays out.
I also just put on E-8 in February which may complicate things. I have a 2 year service commitment (Feb 2021). My 20 year mark is in December of 2020. We’ll see how this plays out.
I suggest an aggressive set of delaying techniques. Always take the maximum time allowed to complete a requirement. Push back on appointments when possible. Ask for a VARR. Appeal the IPEB to the FPEB. Appeal the FPEB to SEACAF. If necessary as for continuation to 20. It means lots of $$$$ to you, so do everything possible!
Service commitment is not an issue, but high-3 is an issue. Medical retirement trumps service commitment. Getting as many months in your new grade will make a huge difference in your retirement pay over a lifetime!
Just to share my experience with you, I started my MEB process at 17 yrs 7 months, I appealed at the IPEB, FPEB, SECAF, I was approved for Limited Assignment Status at the 19yr mark, start PTDY/Terminal in 30 days and will be retired 28 Nov. The OAC can help you with your timelines, just like chaplaincharlie said, to drag your feet at every level. I think you're going to make it.
Agree.
DFAS Info.
High-3: If you entered active or reserve military service after September 7, 1980, your retired pay base is the average of the highest 36 months of basic pay. If you served less than three years, your base will be the average monthly active duty basic pay during your period of service.
ACTIVE DUTY
The longer you stay on active duty, the higher your retirement pay. Each year of active duty service is worth 2.5 percent toward your service percent multiplier.
A retiree with 20 years of service (i.e., active duty) would have a service percent multiplier of 50 percent:
2.5% x 20 years = 50%
DISABILITY RETIREMENT
The multiplier for disability retired pay is either:
- 2.5 percent for each year of service [active duty], or
- disability percentage assigned by the service at the time you retire
Either way, the multiplier is limited to 75 percent by law. If you are on the Temporary Disability Retired List, the minimum multiplier is 50 percent while on the TDRL.
Note: For CRDP and CRSC purposes in CH 61 cases, the dollar amount of the longevity portion of retirement (i.e., 2.5% x AD yrs x high three) is used.
DFAS uses the method that results in the largest payment.
Ron
Hypothetical Situation: You make it to 20 years regular retirement during an MEB, you are found to over 50% DoD disabled and found unfit. Is your military retirement 50% or the DoD rating? I understand you get the higher of the 2.5% x years or DoD disability percentage for less than a 20 year retirement - curious what happens if you make it passed 20 years?
Good question.
One would receive the higher of the DoD percentage (example 60%) or the longevity multiplier which is 50% for 20 years AD.
The mechanics of the situation using DoD @ 60% and longevity multiplier of 50%:
1. In my example, your retired pay would be High three average base pay x 60% (since it is more than the 50% longevity portion) = retired pay
Note: Your retired pay regardless of longevity or DoD multiplier is reduced by the amount of VA compensation received.
Example: 3300 retied pay reduced by amount of VA comp 3000 = 300 left over/residual retired pay you would receive.
2. Assuming you have a VA rating of 50% or more you are eligible for CRDP in this scenario, not to exceed the dollar amount of the longevity portion of retired pay.
The longevity portion of retied pay is number of AD years (ex: 20) x 2.5% = longevity multiplier (ex: 50%)
High three average base pay x longevity multiplier (ex: 50%) = longevity portion or retired pay
3. Waived retired pay in this example would restored Via CRDP in the amount of the longevity portion of retired pay LESS residual retired pay (ex: 300 left over retired pay)
Example: Longevity portion of retired pay 2500; 300 residual retired pay would result in 2200 CRDP + 300 residual retired pay = 2500 total paid by DFAS
Randomly selected amounts used for the examples above. You will receive the full amount of VA compensation as well.
Ron
I have been going through the process since September of last year. I am just now getting my C&P exams started next week. You may have a shot to make it to 20. Drag it out as long as you possibly can, lord knows, the process is broken and will take you a good while anyhow. good luck to you!
Besides turning in paperwork at the maximum deadlines, what else have you done to extend your timetable? I’m at 18.5 and I have my initial appointment August 9.
From what I’ve read, dragging it out for a year and a half is pretty easy. Maxing our timelines, being on “leave” during appointments, appeal every stage up to the SECAF (alone atleast 6 months), request a VARR. I don’t think it will be an issue.
I plan on retiring at at 20 so I’m I’ll request to be found unfit but appeal my DOD % app the way up to the SECAF.
When do/can you apply for Limited Assignment Status if needed to get to 20?
I plan on retiring at at 20 so I’m I’ll request to be found unfit but appeal my DOD % app the way up to the SECAF.
When do/can you apply for Limited Assignment Status if needed to get to 20?
Permanent Limited Duty <---PLD LINK
PERMANENT LIMITED DUTY (PLD)--Navy
DEFINITION
Continuance of Unfit Service Members on Active Duty. Generally, when a Service member is found Unfit by the PEB, the Service member shall be separated or retired in accordance with this SECNAVINST 1850.4 (Series). PLD is defined as a need for a service member’s skill or experience that justifies the continuance of that service member on active duty in a limited assignment; the service member may be retained on active duty for a specified period of time. Each case is individually considered. The service member’s length of service to date is not a controlling factor in PLD decisions.
Ron
Note: I did not spend a lot of time on this, but I found the term "PLD" in use only by the Navy and USMC. Others might want to comment on this.
Edited to add 29 July 2019: See AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-3212 15 JULY 2019 referenced in post 20 by mjf114
LINK thanks to mjf114 <----
PERMANENT LIMITED DUTY (PLD)--Navy
DEFINITION
Continuance of Unfit Service Members on Active Duty. Generally, when a Service member is found Unfit by the PEB, the Service member shall be separated or retired in accordance with this SECNAVINST 1850.4 (Series). PLD is defined as a need for a service member’s skill or experience that justifies the continuance of that service member on active duty in a limited assignment; the service member may be retained on active duty for a specified period of time. Each case is individually considered. The service member’s length of service to date is not a controlling factor in PLD decisions.
Ron
Note: I did not spend a lot of time on this, but I found the term "PLD" in use only by the Navy and USMC. Others might want to comment on this.
Edited to add 29 July 2019: See AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-3212 15 JULY 2019 referenced in post 20 by mjf114
LINK thanks to mjf114 <----
My attorney filed for Limited Assignment Status as soon as the SECAF disposition came back.
Here's the link to AFI 36-3212 that was just revised last week. Chapter 7 covers the LAS process. If you have an attorney, they can submit the LAS application, your PEBLO can also do it, but I'd be a lot more comfortable having a disability attorney (OAC) take you through that process rather than a PEBLO. Just my .02