Welcome to the PEB Forum!
In retrospect, since the DoD IDES MEB/PEB process is a performance-based system, one
important factor is the impact of
all medical conditions affecting the military service member's ability to "reasonably perform duties of his or her office, grade, rank or rating." 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.
Nonetheless, each military department's first priority for military service members suffering from an illness or injury is to ensure delivery of the highest quality and proper medical attention. If the medical conditions improve to the point that the military service member is able to return to full military duty, then they are returned to their military unit.
Otherwise, despite the advances in modern medicine and the best efforts of patients, some military service members
cannot be returned to full-duty status. In this event, it will be necessary for the military service member to be referred to the DoD IDES MEB/PEB process. The IDES process begins whenever the military medical provider determines that the military service member's ability to continue their military service is questionable due to a physical and/or mental impairment. To that extent, the law provide benefits for military service members whose military service is cut short due to a service-related disability incurred in the line of duty. Also, IDES is used to determine the fitness and applicable disability benefits of military service members with duty-related impairments.
In response to your specific questions from an U.S. Army perspective, a permanent physical profile coded either a "3" or "4" in PULHES will usually result in an automatic referral into the DoD IDES MEB/PEB process. Upon referral with acceptance into the DoD IDES, the soldier's Commander is asked to complete the Commander’s Performance & Functional Statement (DA Form 7652). The DA Form 7652 requires the Commander to be as specific as possible and to provide details about the soldier's work performance and their ability to perform duties appropriate to his/her rank and branch/MOS.
More specifically, the Commander is asked to provide detailed information as follows:
– Description of Soldier’s current duty performance (uniform, hours of work, etc.)
– Special limitations of duty – Ability to adequately perform duties (PMOS)
– Discuss current duty assignment, anticipated future assignments, branch, age, and career specialties
– Discuss in as MUCH detail as possible
Based upon your comments about what your Commander included in the DA Form 7652, he/she seems to be recommending that your chronic liver disease medical condition isn't effecting your ability to perform your duties appropriate to your rank. As such, that's positive feedback for the IDES MEB/PEB if you want to indeed
continue your military service. Albeit, if you are indeed found to be "unfit for duty" by the IDES PEB, then the Commander's evaluation (DA Form 7652) to include all
other medical evidence and medical documentation will be used to determine the appropriate VA disability rating in accordance with the criteria as annotated in 38 CFR VASRD by the DoVA D-RAS.
With that all said, I hope all works out favorably to your own desires while in the DoD IDES MEB/PEB process. Take care!
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!