MEB with 19 years TIS

E0MFD

E0MFD

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hello,

AD Army here. I’m currently being seen at BH for PTSD. Ive been in the Army 19 years and 1 month. I also have a shit ton of leave saved. I’ll have 119 days end of FY22. Anyways, my BH specialist is pushing me to go to SRU. I am very hesitant because my unit is very supportive. For example, I haven’t been to work in months because I get triggered very easily at work and also being in uniform. If I were to go to SRU, more than likely, they would push for MEB. I understand the importance of medically retiring after 20 years. Regardless if I stay at my unit or go to SRU, I'll probably start a MEB. My BH specialist has brought it up multiple times, so I'm pretty sure If I ask her, she'd do it.

My claims would be PTSD, lower back pain, tinnitus, insomnia and migraines. How feasible would it be to stretch out the MEB process to reach 20 years? And with my 119 days of leave plus 30 days PTDY, that would be bring me to 159 days starting at the end of August.

Probably stupid question: If terminal leave brings me past my 20 year mark, will it still count towards medical retirement along with 20 years of service retirement? Confused on the terminology.

Cheers
 
So if you have 20 years for retirement there isn't much of a benefit for medically retiring since at 20 years you would be eligible for CRDP which is getting your VA disability and your pension at the same time with no offset. If you aren't yet in a MEB I would not go to SRU but instead I would put in your retirement packet ASAP to retire right at 20 years. With all of your leave saved up that would put you at only 6 more months before you would start terminal leave + PTDY.

If put in a MEB you could stretch it out to 20 years but it would probably be a lot more stressful. Also, just because you have 119 days does not automatically mean you get to use all of it for terminal leave when medically retired. They Army usually sets the NLT date when medical retirement orders are cut at between 60 & 90 days.
 
Hello,

Re: “Probably stupid question: If terminal leave brings me past my 20 year mark, will it still count towards medical retirement along with 20 years of service retirement? Confused on the terminology.”

Leave counts as active duty. Yes,it still counts. Incidentally, I infer you have almost 20 years active duty rather than 20 good years for reserve retirement. Am I correct?

Recommendation: Get your 20 years in even if you have to chain yourself to the commander’s desk.

Ron
 
Provis said:
So if you have 20 years for retirement there isn't much of a benefit for medically retiring since at 20 years you would be eligible for CRDP which is getting your VA disability and your pension at the same time with no offset. If you aren't yet in a MEB I would not go to SRU but instead I would put in your retirement packet ASAP to retire right at 20 years. With all of your leave saved up that would put you at only 6 more months before you would start terminal leave + PTDY.

If put in a MEB you could stretch it out to 20 years but it would probably be a lot more stressful. Also, just because you have 119 days does not automatically mean you get to use all of it for terminal leave when medically retired. They Army usually sets the NLT date when medical retirement orders are cut at between 60 & 90 days.
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My retirement packet has already been approved by HRC. They are just waiting for me to send them my Leave form to cut my official retirement orders.

Yesterday, I talked to a couple of the staff at SRU, who were very eager to convince to go MEB route, one of them was saying I could get up to 75% tax free DOD medical disability retirement pay on top of whatever VA rates me at for my claims, if I go through MEB with over 20 years active duty. Is that not true? If not, then obviously, retiring regular with 20 years is the best option.

I know I can start BDD at 180-90 days of my retirement but won’t know my actually rating until I am officially out.

This is very stressful to me. Yesterday was one of my pretty bad days. Stress seems to enhance my symptoms and I feel very overwhelmed, which I know is already in itself.
 
RonG said:
Hello,

Re: “Probably stupid question: If terminal leave brings me past my 20 year mark, will it still count towards medical retirement along with 20 years of service retirement? Confused on the terminology.”

Leave counts as active duty. Yes,it still counts. Incidentally, I infer you have almost 20 years active duty rather than 20 good years for reserve retirement. Am I correct?

Recommendation: Get your 20 years in even if you have to chain yourself to the commander’s desk.

Ron
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Yes, all active duty years.
 
natedkin said:
My retirement packet has already been approved by HRC. They are just waiting for my Leave form to cut my official retirement orders.

Yesterday, I talked to a couple of the staff at SRU, who were very eager to convince to go MEB route, one of them was saying I could get up to 75% tax free DOD medical disability retirement pay on top of whatever VA rates me at for my claims, if I go through MEB with over 20 years active duty. Is that not true? If not, then obviously, retiring regular with 20 years is the best option.

I know I can start BDD at 180-90 days of my retirement but won’t know my actually rating until I am officially out.

This is very stressful to me. Yesterday was one of my pretty bad days. Stress seems to enhance my symptoms and I feel very overwhelmed, which I know is already in itself.
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If medically retired and the condition found combat related then the pension would be exempt from Federal Taxes. I normally tell people to fight for a MEB if they are in need of one. However, for those that can regular retire it may not be worth the stress or risk especially with mental health conditions. Also, if going the MEB route you want it to start at 6 month's out from 20 year mark. There is no sanctuary for MEBs and its a very big risk because its possible and has happened where soldiers were discharged short of 20 years and then they get their medical retirement offset by VA disability causing them to lose $3,000 + a month in compensation. Also, mental health is normally TDRL meaning now your rating is temporary and more exams to go to in the next 3 years. So 4 years of stress for only the possibility to save some money paying federal taxes on a pension is not a good tradeoff in my opinion.
 
Provis said:
If medically retired and the condition found combat related then the pension would be exempt from Federal Taxes. I normally tell people to fight for a MEB if they are in need of one. However, for those that can regular retire it may not be worth the stress or risk especially with mental health conditions. Also, if going the MEB route you want it to start at 6 month's out from 20 year mark. There is no sanctuary for MEBs and its a very big risk because its possible and has happened where soldiers were discharged short of 20 years and then they get their medical retirement offset by VA disability causing them to lose $3,000 + a month in compensation. Also, mental health is normally TDRL meaning now your rating is temporary and more exams to go to in the next 3 years. So 4 years of stress for only the possibility to save some money paying federal taxes on a pension is not a good tradeoff in my opinion.
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Outstanding commentary by @Provis

Re: “Yesterday, I talked to a couple of the staff at SRU, who were very eager to convince to go MEB route, one of them was saying I could get up to 75% tax free DOD medical disability retirement pay on top of whatever VA rates me at for my claims, if I go through MEB with over 20 years active duty. Is that not true? If not, then obviously, retiring regular with 20 years is the best option.”

That is partially true. If you complete 20 years AD and have VA comp at 50% or more, you will be eligible for CRDP.

Your medical disability pay will be reduced dollar for dollar in the amount of VA comp. CRDP will restore the longevity amount of waived retired pay. You will not end up with 75% “on top”.

Ron
 
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AR 635-40, CH. 6
AR 635-40, CH. 4-29

If need be, those regulations should relieve some stress. You’re good either way as far as reaching 20 years. I would suggest MEB route only because it basically walks you through the VA process, as well as having your referred condition properly documented.
 
With your TIS and leave saved you could easily appeal at all six levels and stretch it out to 20. Basically just disagree with something, anything and wait the 7 days to submit. And submit a VARR request a formal board, appeal to usapda at the end. My MEB took around 14 months I appealed every single time based on a misdiagnosis. I could have been out in six months if I had agreed and signed everything the first day and never appealed.
 
Update: So today I was put in for a MEB and also I sign into SRU on Monday. I also completed an intake appointment for IOP but I think that it will be too hard for me to handle when they do the group therapy phase. I might just suck it up and give it a shot. So I guess my timeline starts today.

31MAR22: Referred to MEB
 
Talked to my PEBLO today. She said that it’s likely that I will be found fit for continued service due to my retirement being approved by HRC already.

Anyone have any advice or experience in this? Thanks
 
E0MFD said:
Talked to my PEBLO today. She said that it’s likely that I will be found fit for continued service due to my retirement being approved by HRC already.

Anyone have any advice or experience in this? Thanks
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Its possible but I would delay, delay, delay. Ask PEBLO to delay too! They can lose paperwork!
 
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