IDES

Hey Mike and Lola,

Your PEBLO does have access to contacting the board directly. However, they don't have access to contacting the VA. If you PEBLO is not helping you out, send me a PM and I can give you suggestions on who to contact. But you really only want to use this option if your PEBLO is not helping you out.

The Disabilities branch at AFPC has just lost 3 people. I'm guessing a lot of cases have fallen through the cracks because of this.

Mike, from what I understand from the process, by signing the document you are acknowledging that you know what is being sent down to the IPEB. Maybe Jason can verify that. If it is and they added stuff without your awareness, I would take that up your chain-of-command and your PEBLOs chain.
 
27 June 2011

My MEB is on hold at the medical group commander level for further testing on the PTSD side of the house. The VA doctor's evaluation needs to be proven wrong by a PTSD expert. This means I'm waiting for the Army side of the house to schedule an appointment with their personal PTSD experts.

I'm frustrated, to say the least. Now, because of the VA doc's unbelievable eval, my anxiety is high about seeing another new doctor. I find it amazing that one stranger's hour long evaluation can make such a massive impact on the end of your career and your future.

I'm glad to see that most of the IDES questions on this thread have been answered. I wish I had more information, but I haven't even made it off base with my package.

Timeline to date:

24 Jan 11: MEB begins
18 Feb 11: PEBLO brief
03 Mar 11: VA rep brief and scheduling of appointments
13 Apr 11: Final VA doc Appt
11 May 11: Met with MH and TBI to counter VA's poor evaluation. Submitted medical documentation proving medical results of TBI (ignored by VA), and personality tests to counter off-the-cuff VA diagnosis.
08 Jun 11: Med Group Commander requested additional information
20 Jun 11: Squadron commander's letter written
27 Jun 11: Med Group Commander has put MEB on hold pending final TBI and PTSD evaluation. The third and final would prove one side over the other. And now we wait...

It's hard not to be frustrated. Congrats on those who have received their results. My recommendation: have a good VA rep (preferably one with a lot of rank in their careers) with you during a PTSD evaluation to make sure you aren't railroaded. Will keep you posted.
 
I know a Commander can initiate an MEB, but I've never heard of a Commander stopping one when the Doctors believe in an unfitting illness or disease...
 
Amygal82 said:
I know a Commander can initiate an MEB, but I've never heard of a Commander stopping one when the Doctors believe in an unfitting illness or disease...
Click to expand...

The Members CC can't, but the Medical Group CC can. They have to sign off on all packages.
 
ncfitzge said:
The Members CC can't, but the Medical Group CC can. They have to sign off on all packages.
Click to expand...

You're right. The Medical Group CC has it on hold because he wants the package to be solid. Since his appointment to JBER, this commander has had less than 1% of board packages returned (on the Air Force side). I understand the track record, and his caution. I just don't like the neverending waiting.
 
jessicacm said:
You're right. The Medical Group CC has it on hold because he wants the package to be solid. Since his appointment to JBER, this commander has had less than 1% of board packages returned (on the Air Force side). I understand the track record, and his caution. I just don't like the neverending waiting.
Click to expand...

Trust me, I know how you feel. Hopefully they get moving soon.
 
Does anyone know how long it takes to your case to go up for the PEB? I have been told if I don't have my PEB before my EAOS this is November 17th I will sent to the VA and the Navy is done with me, If this happens I will not be able to have the possibility of the 30% retirement pay and a ID card?

Thanks in advise for the help
 
I wish I knew. I'm five+ months since the MEB was initiated and I still haven't had my package meet with the local board.
 
Scott Taylor said:
Does anyone know how long it takes to your case to go up for the PEB? I have been told if I don't have my PEB before my EAOS this is November 17th I will sent to the VA and the Navy is done with me, If this happens I will not be able to have the possibility of the 30% retirement pay and a ID card?

Thanks in advise for the help
Click to expand...

Scott,

It is impossible to say how long it will take unfortunately. I'm not sure on how the Navy works. Maybe Jason could provide more input on this. From what I understand, if you enter the MEB process, they will extend your DOS until the process is complete. You will have to check your regs for information on that.

It also depends on the complexity of your case. More conditions means more appointments. If your package contains a mental disorder, they will be required to have a psychiatrist review your package. The IDES is a bit longer. From what I have noticed, as pertaining to the AF, the entire process between being coded and separated is between 10-12 months.
 
ncfitzge said:
Hey Mike and Lola,

Your PEBLO does have access to contacting the board directly. However, they don't have access to contacting the VA. If you PEBLO is not helping you out, send me a PM and I can give you suggestions on who to contact. But you really only want to use this option if your PEBLO is not helping you out.

The Disabilities branch at AFPC has just lost 3 people. I'm guessing a lot of cases have fallen through the cracks because of this.

Mike, from what I understand from the process, by signing the document you are acknowledging that you know what is being sent down to the IPEB. Maybe Jason can verify that. If it is and they added stuff without your awareness, I would take that up your chain-of-command and your PEBLOs chain.
Click to expand...

Thats correct, I should have read it better but I would hope my PEBLO would fill it out correctly and include the right forms. I've corrected the issue and have the right forms headed down now. Probably not an issue since they lost three people and its now taking an additional 2 1/2 weeks to complete the boards. Now my issue is that they gave me a copy of the Contracted VA doctor report and several of the items I claimed say that they couldnt be verified because medical records were unavailable or becuase they couldnt verify the condition. I'm sure thats going to equal an appeal. My VA rep said the rating folks will have that report and my medical records so not sure how that will turn out. Oh, and I'm glad this forum is here because a bunch of what I was told and what the SECDEF was preaching in some recent news reports was just recently revealed to me to be incorrect and the process is not working the way its supposed to be. Glad this forum is here!
 
Heard from my VA rep (not my PEBLO) that my PEB came back on the 14th and was forwarded to the VA on that date. He said they have 15 days to finish my rating (under IDES). That should put me right at 5 months since I signed for my MEB. I know I will have to file a appeal (or whatever its called) since the contracted VA doc couldnt substantiate some claims due to not having the records available (even though they were sent to them). AMVET rep said he couldnt help me till the VA preliminary rating came back, else maybe I wouldnt have to do the appeal. Must be something under the new system where they cant help till the preliminary rating comes back. More to come........
 
Ok here's my timeline...

March 16- Started MEB/IDES program
April 8-12- Medical Exams
May 4- NARSUM submitted to MEB
May 20- MEB finding, unfit send to IPEB
May 25- Package sent to IPEB
June 27- IPEB found unfit, sent to VA for rating
July 13- VA rated me 30% on unfitting condition, 10% on secondary, overall 40% VA rating
July 26- Package sent to PEBLO
Aug 3- Met with PEBLO to get rating

Im pushing for a date of retirement as 30 Nov, starting permissive in conjunction with terminal 31 Aug, depending on how long it takes AFPC to cut orders.

Hope everyone's are coming back quickly!
 
Just got word today that the medical eval that was done by a contracted VA doc and accepted by the VA was missing evaluations on 9 different issues. So, I have to go back to the doctor to get those evaluations before the VA can finish my rating. They couldn't have caught this earlier? My medical eval was over 3 months ago. So much for IDES.
 
Timelines

So it's officially the next step in my extra-lengthy process. My timeline is as follows

Jan 24- Started MEB/IDES program
March 15-31- Medical Exams
May- NARSUM submitted to MEB
May/Jun- Need more information
Jun/Jul- Medical Commander requested additional NARSUM from different service
Jul- I contact sister service department, tell them what's going on, and in record time I'm contacted and told Nevermind...they don't need the new NARSUM
Jul 28 - MEB finding, unfit send to IPEB
Aug 1 - Package sent to IPEB

Long story short, I had to ask the questions to find someone to help me. Now I'm being told it'll be three months before I get any results. I'm not sure if that's accurate. Timelines seem pretty sporadic across the board. I know that my package arrived to the IPEB already.
 
I just started the IDES process and I have never been more confused in my entire life. I am meeting with the VA claim development today.

Here is why I am so confused. I was notified I was being MEB'd back in December of last year. Since then I have been just waiting and waiting with no real answers of where my MEB was at. I kept asking my PEBLO and I was always told the same thing my doctor is fixing the narrative summary.

I am even more confused because I was told that I was going through the old process.... Here is where I am at:

20 Dec-Notified of MEB
24 Jan-Went to get measurements taken for left arm from Physical Therapy
9 Sept-Notified of IDES process??????


I have a narrative summary though... It was sent to the VA with my package.

Can anyone help? I have contacted my PEBLO and no answer on what is going on...
 
Dear amnsmith:

I'm not sure where you are at (location), but my Peblo at Ft. Lewis, Washington, said it was taking 2-3 months to get a packet returned and Soldier notified with results. Maybe someone at your location will chime in.

I have the email addy to my PEBLO and that's how I get in touch with them. Phone calls are tough sometimes to get through as they are not always at their cubicle - My PEBLO is a damned good one when I compare notes from other folks about their PEBLO.
See if you can get the PEBLO email addy next time you connect. That seems to have worked better for me.

A friend of mine gave me this website and I signed up for it. Thought I'd pass this under your nose to see if this will give you some more clues about where you are in the process.

One of many things this website can do is TRACK your Compensation and Pension Claims that are pending at the Veterans Administration. It lets you know what stage your VA stuff is in. This website also claims that they are also able to get you most of your VA medical records online and have information about old claims too - they say they now can go back 10 years or so!

But there's so much more this website can do electronically that can really help you for records and things. Military, DEERS, TRICARE, VA, GI BiLL......
And gettings records through this portal is faster than any other place I've tried. Saves gas and TIME!

This is a very handy website to get registered on - now and for later!

https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal

I'm sorry I may not have answered your original question, but I hope this website for ebenefits will give you some more tools in your toolbox.

v/r,
nwlivewire
 
AmnSmith,
without knowing the specifics of your injury here is some general info. Sounds like they started you under the old process then switched you to the new IDES process when it was implemented at your base. It happended to me and I am now at 16 months total going through the entire process. Take the VA claim form and go through your records and document everything that you have been diagnosed with on the VA form. You might be able to get assistance from your local AMVET veteran service officer. After that they will schedule you a VA appt to be evaluated. When that comes back your local board will decide if they return you to duty or if they send the package to San Antonio for review (assuming your AF). From there the AF will decide fit or unfit while the VA develops your preliminary rating. I just got my rating back this past week; total time 6 1/2 months, still waiting on AF decision though. Dig into this site and do searches on your questions, lots of good info on here. If your PEBLO isnt being responsive you can always call your patient advocate. Good luck
 
Greetingeveryone...I'm thankful in finding this site and to each of you for all theinfo flow! Jessica, I hope all is well with you as well with everyone else!

Well Ireceived my nice phone call from my Mental Health psychiatrist yesterday: MSgt,we feel it in the best interest of the AF that we initiate a MEB for yourconditions. I’m active duty AF, E-7 with18yrs 4mths. Chaplain Assistant. Let mesee, in over 24yrs of service (reserve time in there) who has ever beenconcerned about my interests or those of my family? It really becomes each of us. This is the beginning of my story. Iappreciate any help suggestions…I’m reading your stories and re-reading forunderstanding. THANKS much!

Diagnosis:

Asthma(diagnosed in 2000-MEB-Returned to duty)

  • RILOs for last 11yrs
Migraines(stress induced - 2001)

  • Migraines (cluster? headaches stress induced)
PTSD(diagnosed Aug 2009)

  • 2007 Iraq/Bagdad (during surge)
    • Heavy mortuary Ops
    • Had to have big toe joint replaced due to exploding it while diving behind T-wall during a heavy mortar attack
    • Shoulder dislocated, torn ligaments heavy arthritic pain everyday
  • 2009 Dover AFB
    • Air Force Mortuary Operations Center
    • Traumatic Stress Response team & resiliency support
    • Family care counselor (trying to comfort those families that came to Dover to honor their loved ones…still to this day, what do you say for comfort?
Pendingdiagnosis:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic Fatigue syndrome
  • Lupus
 
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