Southeast IDES Timeline

[TiredTerminalLance]

I figured I'd post my timeline. I feel like I have been waiting forever but I know that's just kind of part of this process.

First LIMDU Period: 6 months started on 7/21/2022
Second LIMDU period: 5/20/2025
Doc DES referral: 7/23/25
Official MEB referral: 8/1/2025
Legal brief: 8/5/25
First PEBLO contact sometime between these
VA rep meeting and exam scheduling: 8/13/25
First VA Exam: 8/18/25
Last VA Exam: 8/20/25 (4 appts total & imaging)
Initial Legal meeting: 8/21/25
MEB Review and Sign: 9/10/25
PEB accepted case: 9/17/25
VA claim closed: 10/2/25

Now I am just waiting for my ratings to come back. The VA won’t tell me anything, as expected. I know with the new system and gov shutdown things are backlogged and moving slow but hoping to get something back soon.

 

[BrokeOffAV8R]

It took about two months to receive my findings after my last C&P exam. Once you see your claim closed in the VA app you should expect a call from someone at your local MTF that's handling your board. Keep your head up man

 

[TiredTerminalLance]

It took about two months to receive my findings after my last C&P exam. Once you see your claim closed in the VA app you should expect a call from someone at your local MTF that's handling your board. Keep your head up man

I appreciate it. The first part of my board seemed to be going so fast until the shutdown happened. Now I've been up in the air with no answers or updates for almost 4 months waiting for findings. It's driving me crazy (and my command, which of course makes it more annoying since they are always asking for updates I don't have). Fingers crossed for something at least in the next month.

 

[TiredTerminalLance]

Update: Just got my ratings back today 1/26/26.

100% VA Proposed / 20% DOD

Struggling to decide if I should accept or not. Not sure if it's worth trying to get a higher DOD since I have multiple conditions I probably COULD add to get to the retirement point. Not sure if it's worth waiting to do the whole appeal process or not. Any advice?

 

[Provis]

Update: Just got my ratings back today 1/26/26.

100% VA Proposed / 20% DOD

Struggling to decide if I should accept or not. Not sure if it's worth trying to get a higher DOD since I have multiple conditions I probably COULD add to get to the retirement point. Not sure if it's worth waiting to do the whole appeal process or not. Any advice?

In my Opinion getting Tricare and the possibility of additional compensation via CRSC is well worth trying to get that DOD% increased to 30% or more.

 

[Army]

Update: Just got my ratings back today 1/26/26.

100% VA Proposed / 20% DOD

Struggling to decide if I should accept or not. Not sure if it's worth trying to get a higher DOD since I have multiple conditions I probably COULD add to get to the retirement point. Not sure if it's worth waiting to do the whole appeal process or not. Any advice?

Glad you got them! Still waiting on mine but I hear they get released in a batch so hopefully mine is done soon. Been waiting since Jan 7th

 

[Crayoneater]

Glad you got them! Still waiting on mine but I hear they get released in a batch so hopefully mine is done soon. Been waiting since Jan 7th

My last VA exam was October, 2025. My case closed at the end of December on the VA website. I called the VA in early January, 2026 and had them email me my proposal letter. I have been in contact with my PEBLO and Lawyer multiple times in the past few weeks. No one has told me about my VA rattings.
I highly recommend calling the VA to get your proposed rating. I was able to get mine with the first person I was connected to. I have seen others on here having trouble, if they don't give you the info, hang up and get connected with someone else. You won't get your DOD rating but hearing the VA propsed rating could help give you an idea of what it will be.

 

[TiredTerminalLance]

In my Opinion getting Tricare and the possibility of additional compensation via CRSC is well worth trying to get that DOD% increased to 30% or more.

I was debating it but I ended up just accepting them today. I don't have enough evidence to make trying to add a new condition feasible. I also just couldn't deal with waiting another potential 6+ months with the threat of ANOTHER gov shutdown. Along with some other personal considerations, it didn't seem worth it.

What I did find out was that I am 100% P&T so I will have access to ChampVA and some other benefits at least.

 

[TiredTerminalLance]

Glad you got them! Still waiting on mine but I hear they get released in a batch so hopefully mine is done soon. Been waiting since Jan 7th

Oh yeah I got accepted by the PEB back at the beginning of Sept and am just now getting my findings. The VA also would not tell me my proposed rating regardless of how many times I called. I would expect to wait a while since they are still going through the backlog that was even before the last shutdown.

 

[Provis]

I was debating it but I ended up just accepting them today. I don't have enough evidence to make trying to add a new condition feasible. I also just couldn't deal with waiting another potential 6+ months with the threat of ANOTHER gov shutdown. Along with some other personal considerations, it didn't seem worth it.

What I did find out was that I am 100% P&T so I will have access to ChampVA and some other benefits at least.

If you get 100% VA P&T then you would be eligible for CHAMPVA.

 

[Army]

I was debating it but I ended up just accepting them today. I don't have enough evidence to make trying to add a new condition feasible. I also just couldn't deal with waiting another potential 6+ months with the threat of ANOTHER gov shutdown. Along with some other personal considerations, it didn't seem worth it.

What I did find out was that I am 100% P&T so I will have access to ChampVA and some other benefits at least.

I got 100% P&T VA / 20% DoD as well. I hear I can do ABCMR when I’m out, so I’m debating whether or not I should concur as well lol. I plan to go to Dallas so if all fails it seems like I’ll have good VA healthcare. My wife is also going through a MEB and she is about to do a formal board and her lawyers think she’s going to get at least 40% DoD, so it might just be worth getting out now. I really don’t think I can take another 6-8 MONTHS

 

[Provis]

I got 100% P&T VA / 20% DoD as well. I hear I can do ABCMR when I’m out, so I’m debating whether or not I should concur as well lol. I plan to go to Dallas so if all fails it seems like I’ll have good VA healthcare. My wife is also going through a MEB and she is about to do a formal board and her lawyers think she’s going to get at least 40% DoD, so it might just be worth getting out now. I really don’t think I can take another 6-8 MONTHS

ABCMR not going to work if you concur. ABCMR is when there is an error or injustice. If you concur then you agree. If you don't agree then appeal. When people do this sort of thing they jam up the system for those who legitimately need relief from ABCRM.

If you concur and fight it and lose then ABCMR might be a route you can go if the result was truly an error or injustice. If you voluntarily accept the findings then you agree and don't have a leg stand on to try to overturn it.

 

[Army]

ABCMR not going to work if you concur. ABCMR is when there is an error or injustice. If you concur then you agree. If you don't agree then appeal. When people do this sort of thing they jam up the system for those who legitimately need relief from ABCRM.

If you concur and fight it and lose then ABCMR might be a route you can go if the result was truly an error or injustice. If you voluntarily accept the findings then you agree and don't have a leg stand on to try to overturn it.

I talked with legal, and they said ABCMR might be my best bet. I’m housebound with a chronic condition that worsens with the duties I’m assigned, that my command won’t work around, so staying in those extra few months would be very bad for my health.

One of my conditions my neurologist rated as pre-existing, which launched a whole investigation, and concluded that it wasn’t pre-existing. However, my MEB started before that investigation finished. And I was advised that the PEB would look more at the original medical statement than that army document. Which is why I have a leg up with ABCMR.

 

[Provis]

I talked with legal, and they said ABCMR might be my best bet. I’m housebound with a chronic condition that worsens with the duties I’m assigned, that my command won’t work around, so staying in those extra few months would be very bad for my health.

One of my conditions my neurologist rated as pre-existing, which launched a whole investigation, and concluded that it wasn’t pre-existing. However, my MEB started before that investigation finished. And I was advised that the PEB would look more at the original medical statement than that army document. Which is why I have a leg up with ABCMR.

ABCMR takes years. My main advice is to fight at every step now. You might get the results you want right away and it will help your case down the line.