Welcome to the PEB Forum!
In my opinion with the implementation of the
new DTM 18-004 "Revised Timeliness Goals for the IDES" which changed the total processing goal for 80% of the DoD IDES cases to 230 days (that's exactly 7.5 months on average for potential completion of the DoD IDES process), you will probably experience some extreme challenges with trying to obtain 20 years of Active Federal Service (AFS) time if you have already been referred and accepted into the DoD IDES MEB/PEB process at 18 years and 5 months of military active duty service.
In retrospect while on military active duty, my DoD IDES experiences resulted in a total duration of 618 calendar days (or 20.3 months) under the previously published DoD IDES timelines. The original DoD Manual 1332.18, Volume 2, dated August 5, 2014 stated an overall IDES processing as "The goal is for DoD and VA to complete 80 percent of cases of AC Service members in no more than 295 days from the date of referral to the IDES to the date of return to duty or notification of the VA benefits decision."
With that all said and potentially due to any unforeseen increased processing of DoD IDES cases by your military branch of service, you may experience an opportunity to fall within the total processing goal for the remaining 20% which can't be completed within 230 days. Indeed, it's reaching pretty far at this point and I wouldn't consider this as a viable course of action but anything is feasible. Another option is to invoke all MEB appeal and PEB appeal opportunities at the appropriately designated timeframes while in the DoD IDES process; it may allow for an extended overall IDES process albeit probably not for any significant amount of time unfortunately.
From an U.S. Army perspective, if you are found unfit for duty by the DoD IDES PEB then you may request Continuation on Active Duty (COAD) status as an exception to policy. As such, COAD is not the responsibility of the IDES PEB. Your assigned PEBLO would help you complete the necessary packet that will go to the USAPDA once you are found unfit by the PEB. A COAD application must be submitted by the Soldier within 14 days of approval of the PEB findings. The COAD status request will then be forwarded to your component for a final determination. To be considered for COAD, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Have a condition that will not require undue loss of time from duty for medical treatment
- Not pose a risk to the health and safety of yourself or other soldiers
- Be physically capable of performing useful duty in a MOS for which you are currently qualified or potentially trainable
Hopefully, your military branch of service has a similar COAD process as an exception to policy. It may be advantageous to make an inquiry with your assigned PEBLO for any additional information on the availability of a COAD process within your military branch of service.
In response to your second question, the DoVA D-RAS certainly has the authority to make a P&T rating determination as a direct result from all available medical evidence and/or medical documentation during its processing of the DoD IDES case file. I hope that all of this information can be of some assistance while navigating thru the DoD IDES process. Take care!
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!