The process for medical evaluation and physical evaluation and finally disability determination is under revision at DoD and VA as a result of the Dole-Shalala report recommendations with the goals of more consistency across service and less red tape for the Wounded Warrior.  WRAMC is one of the pilot locations testing this new process. 

Informal Military Legal Counsel Available

Informal military legal counsel is available throughout the MEB (PDES) and PEB process at the request of the Wounded Warrior.  The counsel may review the results of the informal PEB and assist the soldier in compiling and evaluating information that supports a formal PEB, should the soldier requests one. 

The medical board process is officially called the PDES, Physical Disability Evaluation System.  A wounded soldier is directed to the PDES if they have a medical condition that fails to meet retention standards IAW AR 40-501, Chapter 3. The determination of failing to meet medical retention standards is made by a physician.

Questions regarding the Medical Board System should be directed to your chain of command, case manager, or PEBLO. Your Platoon Sergeant also has PEB booklets available for handout that go into greater detail about the Medical Board System.

The Defense Department announced today, 30 June 2008, the establishment of a new Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) to review disability ratings of wounded warriors and provide another avenue of administrative recourse for our wounded veterans. The Air Force has been designated as lead DoD component for operation and management of the PDBR.
 
“The PDBR has no greater obligation to our wounded, ill, and injured service members and former service members than to offer fair and equitable recommendations pertaining to the assignment of disability ratings,” said Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness David S.C. Chu.

The next step is an informal Physical Evaluation Board (PEB).  As with the MEB, it is not a meeting but an exchange of assessments between an active duty Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel (PEB Chair), a Personnel Management Officer, and a physician to determine whether or not the Wounded Warrior meets retention requirements for his or her MOS.  Under the new scheme being piloted at Walter Reed the VA office located at Walter Reed simultaneously evaluates the case and determines the VA percent disability rating and sends it to the PEB.  The PEBLO briefs the WW on the results.

Department of Veterans Affairs Aptitude Testing

As soon as a WW is an outpatient and capable mentally and physically of being tested,  they should contact Jeannie Lehowicz at 703-424-3563 or Room 2-24 of the MATC or new amputee center for an appointment to complete an application to be tested. Be aware  the application must be approved by the VA and the approval process may take from one to four weeks.

Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Compensation Benefits

What Is VA Disability Compensation?

Disability compensation is a benefit paid to a veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were made worse by active military service.  It is also paid to certain veterans disabled from VA health care.  The benefits are tax-free.

Disability Ratings Improving, Critics Say

New DoD guidance says services must abide by VA rules

By Kelly Kennedy - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Posted : March 10, 2008

A year after Walter Reed Army Medical Center emerged as a symbol of what is wrong with the administrative end of the military medical retirement system, much has changed for the better, according to critics.

“God bless the mold on the wall, because it exposed the disability evaluation system,” said retired Army Lt. Col. Mike Parker, referring to maintenance issues at Walter Reed’s Building 18, where outpatient troops were formerly housed —issues that proved to be the tip of the iceberg of far deeper problems.

“I’m seeing better and better [disability] ratings come out — ratings I would never have seen two years ago,” said Parker, arguably the disability system’s strongest critic, who has helped many troops navigate the process and pushed hard for changes. 

Department of Veterans Affairs “Presumptive” Disability Benefits for Certain Groups of Veterans