They can find you fit later on but that doesn't obligate you to go back to active duty. In fact, you have to contact a recruiter to apply to get back in.
Wow thank you so much for helping me to understanding this. The TDRL process is incredibly confusing. Okay - so it's not as simple as being pushed back into active duty?
Yeah no. If on TDRL and they find you fit its not even a guarantee that you can get back in. You may have other health conditions that prevent getting back in. The standards to get you back in are different than the standards for being fit and staying in. So once TDRL you are pretty much done. Its a long shot to get back in. So the key is if found fit or TDRL reduced is that you appeal it. If you can go from TDRL to PDRL then you are golden since the rating will never change once PDRL.
You're so awesome. This is a dumb question, but what even is the point of the TDRL process? Is it to determine a disability rating OR to determine fitness for duty?
Its solely to give you time to time for the condition to be stable. The reason for TDRL is that they think the condition isn't stable yet. Most of the time its for mental health or PTSD. A lot of Soldiers do much better once they get out and so if you get out and have PTSD and then get better by showing that you can attend school or work a full time job then they can lower the rating and change it to PDRL. TDRL is a trap so its best to do nothing and seek treatment through the VA until your branch changes it from TDRL to PDRL. If no improvement then you want to show that.