Department of Defense (DoD) Integrated Disability Evaluation System[i] (IDES[1])

Disability “Medical Retirement” Pay and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Disability Compensation 

â   Overview of the Physical Disability Evaluation System (IDES)  

The Secretary of the Army is charged with ensuring the fitness of Soldiers, and separating or retiring those who become unfit to continue military service because of physical disability. The law provides benefits for eligible Soldiers whose military service is cut short due to a service-related disability incurred in the line of duty. 

The United States Army Physical Disability Agency (USAPDA) manages the Army's DES and acts on behalf of the Secretary of the Army. USAPDA is a Field Operating Agency of the Army Human Resources Command (HRC) and is headquartered in Washington DC at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. In addition to the USAPDA HQ at Walter Reed, the agency has three Physical Evaluation Boards (PEBs), located at Walter Reed, Ft. Sam Houston, TX and Ft. Lewis, WA. The PEBs are administrative boards that determine whether a Soldier’s medical condition prevents his/her continued service in the Army. The PEB is comprised of two types of boards (Informal and Formal) that review medical and service evidence to make determinations of fitness or unfitness to continue military service.   

It is important to understand that this is a performance-based system. Simply because a Soldier has a medical condition does not mean that the Soldier cannot continue to serve on active duty or in the Reserve Component. It is the impact of that medical condition upon the Soldier’s ability to perform duties appropriate to his/her rank and branch/MOS that is important. A Soldier with a serious medical condition can be found fit within the limits of his/her profile for continued service if the evidence supports that finding.

Many "Unfitting Medical Conditions" Eligible for Reevaluation But Few Know About It