Last stages of PDBR??

ChefSal54 · Sep 11, 2018

Hello fellow veteran, that's one hell of a story and I'm sorry you've went through it. No amount of money can replace what occured and how long we planned on serving our country. I'd imagine if there is any change to your 10% the VA money won't change because I'm guessing you were back payed those 6 years. Also if the service 10% changes to anything over 30% then I also "think" unless it gets changed to anything over 80% that it wouldn't change either. I don't know the differences with percentages from MEB/PEB that are greater than 30%. But if you are awarded 30% and Permanent Disability then you can Tricare, access to Commisary/military bases etc. That's about the only benefits I know of, especially if you were rated by the VA effective your discharge date. That is the boat I'm in right now. Good luck brother!

imthek9 · Sep 11, 2018

I was not back paid from discharge date. I was back paid for 9 months during the VA process. I currently have access to bases and all that given I’m 100%. Tricare would be nice! We will see where it all lands. My story is pretty incredible but it’s led me to where I’m at, which I’m thankful for. Though it took me years to get over everything and not throw myself a pity party.

TDWilliams · Sep 12, 2018

Update from DFAS, Account still being processed, will have to call back in 7 business days to check status. Hope to get some good news to share next week.

imthek9 · Sep 13, 2018

I sent my packet in via email. Should I have receieved a confirmation? It’s been a few days..

Trapper · Sep 14, 2018

imthek9 said:

I mailed mine in and it took over 3 weeks to get a response after I showed it was delivered to the Air Force. You will get a confirmation email, just hold tight.

ChefSal54 · Sep 14, 2018

imthek9 said:

A few days? I got a response months later. Hang in there you're in for an 18-24 month process if you're lucky.

TDWilliams · Sep 14, 2018

imthek9 said:

I got a response 90 days just letting me know they got it. Then another 60 days to let me know it was being process. The wait begins.

but it's all worth it!!

tinker2cute · Sep 18, 2018

Doug called DFAS again today. Said he paperwork was in new accounts and the guy told him to call back next Wednesday. Said it was still being audited. So I’ll update next week when he calls again.

ka7811b · Sep 18, 2018

I also called DFAS again today. I was informed that nothing had been done yet regarding account creation or anything. They said they received my information on 11 August, but there weren't any notes or any other actions. The person I spoke with said she submitted a request to see if they are waiting on additional information from me, and that I had to call back on Wednesday to get the answer.

I'm pretty disappointed in DFAS so far. I don't understand why I would have to call to place a request to find out if I submitted all of the paperwork correctly, and why I would have to call again 8 days later to get the answer. After sitting on my retirement packet for 38 days that information should have already been relayed to me, or at the very least be available when I call to check on it. I feel like they are delaying on purpose.

Perci75 · Sep 28, 2018

@tinker2cute and @TDWilliams

Any new updates on DFAS payments?

MackValdez · Sep 28, 2018

imthek9 said:

I am unsure if this will result in any money for you each month but it is possible. In my case, I did a little more time (9 1/2) but my injury was not "combat related" so I cannot earn concurrent pay. This means, that even though I am being rewarded retirement, I get VA pay that is higher than my "retirement" pay so I only get VA (which I have been getting since I got discharged). The huge question for you is if your injury and discharge was categorized as "combat related". If it was then it would give you concurrent pay and that would be back paid to the date of your separation. As far as other benefits, you will be given a retiree ID card so have full base privileges, and can sign up for Tri-Care if you wish.

MackValdez · Sep 28, 2018

imthek9 said:

Hello -

New to forum. New to this process. Feel like I have a long road ahead of me. After doing my best to catch up on a lot of these posts I feel like I will be well supported with information.

I served from JAN/01 - AUG/03 - I was medically discharged due to bone deformities in my feet which were due to weight bearing. During the MEB process -- I was ordered to get on a plane, despite memo's from my doctor, to board the plane to Kuwait. I boarded, and carrying my gear up the stairs to the plane in Ft Bliss -- SNAP! My foot snapped from the weight - I was not seen until 2 days later in Al Jabar AFB Kuwait. When the Colonel found out I was being MEB -- and still deployed crap hit the fan and my 1SGT was relieved of his duty as well as the captain. I was shipped back home and medically discharged with 10%. I originally filed for VA in 2009 (6 years after getting out). I was awarded 80% -- this is now 100% with loss of use of foot.

I received a letter last month from the warrior transition group -- advising me of this program. I've submitted everything tonight. Given the little amount of time I had in (2 years 8 months) and getting out as an E4 -- I'm not sure there will be any type of money involved -- which is fine I'm self employed (I train dogs for DOD, DHS, Secret Service etc) so I have a nice income in addition to my VA money. I'm wondering what other benefits would there be if they found me 30+% ? Also will they backpay me the difference since I had to much pride to file for VA compensation for 6 years? I'm excited to go through this process with all of you and can't wait to get a forum veteran badge

PS - Anyone know how you change your profile picture?

Also... if you click on your name/pic at the top of the screen, then hover over your profile pic there is an option to "edit avatar"

tinker2cute · Sep 28, 2018

Perci75 said:

Doug spoke with DFAS Wednesday as instructed. Was told his account is still not made and that the last time anything happened with his account was SEPT 11th. She did a ticket, but said they are waiting on the V.A. Also, Doug said he sent everything in so they would have it. She informed them they still have to request all paperwork through official channels....So there's that!!!

Also, spoke to the V.A. yesterday just to see if they had done anything. NO, however, they said yes it's been requested, they just have not sent anything yet. But was told that his severance payback amount had changed....Of course the V.A. is going to take care of that first. It raised. Found out on here after, that our tax offset (not sure if that is what it's called) The amount we claimed and received back in taxes the year he was medically discharged, has to be recouped now too. We were not aware of that little nugget!

I am curious if anyone has ACTUALLY received back pay in any amount? How long it actually took? It appears once most people get that beloved and coveted "white" envelope they disappear.

At this point, I am not sure of anything. lol

oh he was also instructed to Call back next Thursday.

MackValdez · Sep 28, 2018

tinker2cute said:

So, to make sure I understand this, you filed and got reimbursed for the taxes that were withheld from his severance pay, and now the VA is re-couping that amount? Just curious because I was curious if that would happen. I just received my check from the IRS for the amount that was with held back in 2004. The rest of my severance pay was paid back before I could start receiving VA pay so I was curious if they would come after this small amount too.

Perci75 · Sep 28, 2018

tinker2cute said:

Doug spoke with DFAS Wednesday as instructed. Was told his account is still not made and that the last time anything happened with his account was SEPT 11th. She did a ticket, but said they are waiting on the V.A. Also, Doug said he sent everything in so they would have it. She informed them they still have to request all paperwork through official channels....So there's that!!!

Also, spoke to the V.A. yesterday just to see if they had done anything. NO, however, they said yes it's been requested, they just have not sent anything yet. But was told that his severance payback amount had changed....Of course the V.A. is going to take care of that first. It raised. Found out on here after, that our tax offset (not sure if that is what it's called) The amount we claimed and received back in taxes the year he was medically discharged, has to be recouped now too. We were not aware of that little nugget!

I am curious if anyone has ACTUALLY received back pay in any amount? How long it actually took? It appears once most people get that beloved and coveted "white" envelope they disappear.

At this point, I am not sure of anything. lol

oh he was also instructed to Call back next Thursday.

Thanks Tinker! It seems there is only small percentage of us retirees who are to receive back pay. Most retirees on here VA payment was the same or more then there retired pay, therefore no need to follow up with DFAS.

TDWilliams · Sep 28, 2018

Perci75 said:

No news and it's not good news, playing the waiting game, both us.

Ocean · Sep 28, 2018

Hello, i have been following your cases and thought i would add to DEFAs conundrum.
My case was not a PDBR case but ABCMR. My request to BCMR was for 27 + months backdated orders, and benefits assoc with those orders or 896 active duty pay at rank of Capt. i also requested promotion to MAJ ...among other things.
Timeline:
Nov 2015- Submitted BCMR case.
Nov 2016-Submitted BCMR supplemental
April 2017-BCMR misplaced supplemental Found April 2017.
May 2017-Medical Advisory opinion received sent by BCMR the (opinion was as bizarre as this process) and my request had nothing to do with medical.
Jun 2017-NGB Advisory, favorable for backdated orders-but did not respond to promotion or other issues.
Aug 2017- ABCMR favorable for backdated orders and promotion (day after retirement only) not before as i requested.
Feb 2018 - DASA decides promotion should not happen...but approved backdated orders.
March 2018-PDA provides orders to MAJ with a date after retirement for defas pay purposes, ID card ( but not actual retirement).
April 2018-PDA sends orders to DEFAS
May 2018- HRC sends letter showing i served on active duty For two years ( no DD214) and DD 215 is incorrect.
June 2018- DEFAs closes my pay case claiming they were confused and thought the April 2018 from tbe PDA packet was from me ( not BCMR/PDA).
May-Aug 2018- BCMR gets confused and places my case with PDA cases not realizing i am due 896 days active duty backpay and my case was an ABCMR case.
Aug 2018- DEFAs supervisor sends out e-mail to BCMR refuing to process my pay because My orders from PDA note MAJ. DEFAs. Supervisor then sits on my case for 4 months not realizing the (896 days of approved) active duty back pay & benefits had nothing to do with my rank as a MAJ after retirement in the first place.
Aug-2018: PDA/HRC rescinds Maj orders and states “sorry for inconvenience”.
Sept. 2018- Still awaiting corrected DD215 or 214, 896 days active duty pay with associated benefits and for the Army to realize i was on a pending promotion list and to re-instate retirement order showing i was retired as MAJ for pay purposes only and id card....it has been 6.5 years since i began this nightmare...

Dusty · Sep 28, 2018

Dusty said:

Nothing for me to update. No movement since the beginning of August for my audit.

DFAS tried to garnish payments on day one stating that I didn't have proof that repaid my severance. The VA was awesome. A woman named Monica was spot on and faxed and mailed a letter from accounting stating I had in fact paid. Monica made an interesting point... DFAS has to have known I already paid because it's in the info packet that DFAS gets to determine how much to pay me in the first place. She also sent me a signed letter and their previous fax confirmation number as well.

DFAS said they didn't see anything or have any such severance info. Yet oddly enough, DFAS knew how much I was already receiving from the VA, and knew to only send me a monthly payment minus the amount the VA was already paying. Aggravating. So I sent them the confirmation code frim the VA along with my copy of repayment and a passive aggressive cover letter.

I called a week after that, and they confirmed that they got it.

Everything regarding me and my back pay has disappeared into a black hole and the only info I get now is that it the audit is ongoing.

Gosh... DFAS seemed so efficient when they thought I didn't repay my severance. They had arranged deductions and everything so quickly. Hmm ...what changed to make the process so slow now? [Eyeroll]

My guess, if you're waiting on back pay your case isn't moving before November. There's no chance they're rushing to close out anything before the end of the fiscal year on 31OCT. They're going to let you ride 2018 out and put you on next year's budget numbers.

Perci75 · Sep 28, 2018

Dusty said:

Nothing for me to update. No movement since the beginning of August for my audit.

DFAS tried to garnish payments on day one stating that I didn't have proof that repaid my severance. The VA was awesome. A woman named Monica was spot on and faxed and mailed a letter from accounting stating I had in fact paid. Monica made an interesting point... DFAS has to have known I already paid because it's in the info packet that DFAS gets to determine how much to pay me in the first place. She also sent me a signed letter and their previous fax confirmation number as well.

DFAS said they didn't see anything or have any such severance info. Yet oddly enough, DFAS knew how much I was already receiving from the VA, and knew to only send me a monthly payment minus the amount the VA was already paying. Aggravating. So I sent them the confirmation code frim the VA along with my copy of repayment and a passive aggressive cover letter.

I called a week after that, and they confirmed that they got it.

Everything regarding me and my back pay has disappeared into a black hole and the only info I get now is that it the audit is ongoing.

Gosh... DFAS seemed so efficient when they thought I didn't repay my severance. They had arranged deductions and everything so quickly. Hmm ...what changed to make the process so slow now? [Eyeroll]

My guess, if you're waiting on back pay your case isn't moving before November. There's no chance they're rushing to close out anything before the end of the fiscal year on 31OCT. They're going to let you ride 2018 out and put you on next year's budget numbers.

Thanks for the info!

So are you just waiting on back pay? Have they started your retirement pay yet?

Dusty · Sep 28, 2018

Yes. DFAS has started their retirement pay minus the amount the VA already pays.

But they have 14 years of back pay to "calculate".