Am i eligible for full retirement if i med board out at 19yrs AD (AGR); 23 years total?

So, I have a bad back and right foot (both permanent profile), shoulder issues from a past surgery and I'm set to meet with mental health next week due to depression. After being in denial about being depressed for years, i want to get it taken care of. After reading about the levels of depression and how it ranks on the disability scale, i believe I'm at around 70%. My main concern is that after going through the motions with the doctor that it might come to me boarding out of the Army. Honestly, i wouldn't mind that so much at this point, as long as i was eligible for the pension that I'd receive if i actually retired with an active 20 years (along with whatever VA disability I'd qualify for).

Can anyone tell me if that's how it works? As NG past 18years, we're generally locked in for retirement and I'd hate to screw that up right toward the end however, i feel it would be in my best interest to be fully honest with mental health (to get better), which will likely result in me leaving the Army early.

thanks!
 
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bg015 said:
So, I have a bad back and right foot (both permanent profile), shoulder issues from a past surgery and I'm set to meet with mental health next week due to depression. After being in denial about being depressed for years, i want to get it taken care of. After reading about the levels of depression and how it ranks on the disability scale, i believe I'm at around 70%. My main concern is that after going through the motions with the doctor that it might come to me boarding out of the Army. Honestly, i wouldn't mind that so much at this point, as long as i was eligible for the pension that I'd receive if i actually retired with an active 20 years (along with whatever VA disability I'd qualify for).

Can anyone tell me if that's how it works? As NG past 18years, we're generally locked in for retirement and I'd hate to screw that up right toward the end however, i feel it would be in my best interest to be fully honest with mental health (to get better), which will likely result in me leaving the Army early.

thanks!
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NG and ASAR are protected better than Active Duty. If they kick you out with 15 good years but less than 20 good years you will still get a retirement. Look up the 15 year letter. However, at age 60 or earlier if qualified deployments reduce your age to retirement you will not be eligible for CRDP with a 15 year letter. So there is a benefit to sticking it out if you can. Just know you won't lose everything if they kick you out before 20 good years!

Additional Note: The above situation would only apply if you got DOD 20% or less. If 30% or higher on DOD unfitting condition you would qualify for immediate medical retirement getting the higher between the DOD% and your longevity earned. Also, where are you at with points? If medically retired ALL your points count towards an active duty retirement. If you have 7200 points you may well qualify for active duty retirement hitting 20 active duty years which will qualify you for CRDP immediately instead of waiting until age 60. (This is a super rare thing as normally an AGR soldiers inactive and membership points don't count towards 20 years active federal service. you will need to stay on top of things to ensure you get CRDP when you get out.)
 
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bg015 said:
So, I have a bad back and right foot (both permanent profile), shoulder issues from a past surgery and I'm set to meet with mental health next week due to depression. After being in denial about being depressed for years, i want to get it taken care of. After reading about the levels of depression and how it ranks on the disability scale, i believe I'm at around 70%. My main concern is that after going through the motions with the doctor that it might come to me boarding out of the Army. Honestly, i wouldn't mind that so much at this point, as long as i was eligible for the pension that I'd receive if i actually retired with an active 20 years (along with whatever VA disability I'd qualify for).

Can anyone tell me if that's how it works? As NG past 18years, we're generally locked in for retirement and I'd hate to screw that up right toward the end however, i feel it would be in my best interest to be fully honest with mental health (to get better), which will likely result in me leaving the Army early.

thanks!
Click to expand...
Sorry definitely didn't read your post real well. If you are referred to IDES and medically retired you should easily be able to stall the process to get out at or after 20 active duty years to ensure you get all the benefits. Also, at 1 year out you can put in your retirement package and just limp by until you hit 20 years. You can even get on profile and not be kicked out if the profile isn't expected to last a year. Which in your case would be easy to argue if you already have an approved retirement. So i would apply for retirement and get it approved. Then seek treatment unless waiting would hurt you health wise.
 
Provis said:
NG and ASAR are protected better than Active Duty. If they kick you out with 15 good years but less than 20 good years you will still get a retirement. Look up the 15 year letter. However, at age 60 or earlier if qualified deployments reduce your age to retirement you will not be eligible for CRDP with a 15 year letter. So there is a benefit to sticking it out if you can. Just know you won't lose everything if they kick you out before 20 good years!

Additional Note: The above situation would only apply if you got DOD 20% or less. If 30% or higher on DOD unfitting condition you would qualify for immediate medical retirement getting the higher between the DOD% and your longevity earned. Also, where are you at with points? If medically retired ALL your points count towards an active duty retirement. If you have 7200 points you may well qualify for active duty retirement hitting 20 active duty years which will qualify you for CRDP immediately instead of waiting until age 60. (This is a super rare thing as normally an AGR soldiers inactive and membership points don't count towards 20 years active federal service. you will need to stay on top of things to ensure you get CRDP when you get out.)
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Thanks for your reply. What you're saying makes sense and definitely helps me sort out the possibilities. Never did I think I'd be in the sort of position so, any/all info is greatly appreciated. I literally am 489 points (days) from 7200/active retirement on AGR; 261 days from PTDY (or whatever the current term is) and then possible internship (unsure yet) and 90days terminal leave. Therefore, yes, I'm so close to the end and i figure i can squeeze it out but i also am pretty certain that to do so, i probably need to be put on some "happy pills" for lack of better terminology because its hard to want to do just about anything; really hard to go to work and function normally (think, concentrate, have energy, not be completely frustrated, on and on). Not thinking about hurting myself, etc., just to get that out there..

Therefore, i guess I'm just trying to figure how best to approach mental health for the most benefit to myself and my pension in the end, and not get slotted into a med board of that would nullify my 20yr retirement, if that makes sense. I know that after 18yrs in NG Soldiers are in "sanctuary" meaning they have to be given their 20yr retirement (absent illegal activity, etc.). I wasn't sure if that played into something like a med board where i'd still be good.
 
Provis said:
Sorry definitely didn't read your post real well. If you are referred to IDES and medically retired you should easily be able to stall the process to get out at or after 20 active duty years to ensure you get all the benefits. Also, at 1 year out you can put in your retirement package and just limp by until you hit 20 years. You can even get on profile and not be kicked out if the profile isn't expected to last a year. Which in your case would be easy to argue if you already have an approved retirement. So i would apply for retirement and get it approved. Then seek treatment unless waiting would hurt you health wise.
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I do like your idea of the profile at a year out after dropping the retirement package though. In a perfect world, i'd go to mental health and lay it out (sparingly) and let them know what i'm looking for feel out where the line is before they try to medboard me (and not cross it).
 
bg015 said:
I do like your idea of the profile at a year out after dropping the retirement package though. In a perfect world, i'd go to mental health and lay it out (sparingly) and let them know what i'm looking for feel out where the line is before they try to medboard me (and not cross it).
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Thanks! Sounds good. Remember getting to 7200 points only counts when being medically retired. Otherwise its the calculation of how many days you have been on Active Duty and that total needs to equal 20 years to get active duty retirement when on AGR orders. My wife is AGR and going through IDES. If done by points she would have 17 active duty years equivalent but by if calculated by active duty days towards regular active duty retirement should would only have 16 years towards that goal.
 
There is no sanctuary for medical. Many soldiers have been medically retired or medically separated between 18 years and 19 years, 11 months and 29 days. No, sanctuary does not apply to medical boards.
 
Maddog123 said:
There is no sanctuary for medical. Many soldiers have been medically retired or medically separated between 18 years and 19 years, 11 months and 29 days. No, sanctuary does not apply to medical boards.
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He is AGR so he has backup:) If rated below 30% he can decline severance and utilize his 20 year letter. Then collect VA disability until he reaches non regular retirement age to retire.
 
Try and drag out the process to get to 20 active/7200 points. Appeal at every level.
 
Hey all, Really, truly, appreciate the direction, examples and feedback you're provided. Tony, that is one hell of a timeline and , I'm guessing that's the kind of thing I'll be walking into so I appreciate seeing how it went for you to give me an idea of the possibilities.

Last question, I'd really like to just have a discussion on the matter with someone who can give me the down and dirty of it all (not that i don't appreciate the time you've all taken to respond), just want something somewhat official, if possible. Who would you reach out to (VA Office on post, a department at the post hospital, a contact at HRC?)? As I somewhat mentioned above, I don't want to start a conversation that starts the ball rolling in a way damaging to my retirement situation. Just curious about your thoughts that.
 
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