I am currently in the Air National Guard with 19 years of SAT service but I will have enough points to have a total of 20 SAT years by the end of this month. I am currently going through the DES process and was wondering if anyone had any recent experience. I am rated at 100% permanent disability and was wondering what the odds of getting medically retired. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
DES
- Thread starter viper2152
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Are you willing to expand on your situation? By what process did you enter the DES? Fit for Duty (non-duty DES) or by way of IRILO/NARSUM supported by a Line of Duty? If I am correct, whatever potentially unfitting condition(s) have to be rated by >30% by DoD evaluation standards at the IPEB/FPEB to determine if you will receive a medical retirement. Depending on your family situation (dependents) and your rank, you may not receive a monetary benefit necessarily from a medical retirement, but you would receive Tricare which, in and of itself, could be a huge benefit.
I filled paperwork to start the DES process and I was notified by my med group that the "AMRO board is requesting the most recent documentation for your sleep apnea condition from your civilian provider for review." I had my PCM write down that I have sleep apnea so now I am waiting until August UTA to find out what is going on. Apparently, my PTSD didn't require a medical waiver so they are focusing on my sleep apnea.
I confirmed with my FSS and was told it is a NDDES (non-duty DES) that I submitted for since I am a drill status guardsman. To help clarify, I have a total of 13 years TAFMS (7 years as active duty and 6 years as an AGR) and 6 years as a drill status guardsman. I was on AGR orders from October 2017 to September 2023 and after I left the AGR program, I went back as a DSG. All my claims I submitted with the VA were submitted while I was still an AGR and I am currently rated at 100% permanent disability. I keep getting conflicting information regarding whether or not I can collect my VA disability AND my military retirement concurrently immediately after retiring (not at the age of 60). It was my FSS that suggested that I go through the DES process in the first place because of the possibility of collecting both but now they are contradicting what they said. This whole process has been absolutely frustrating and any and all help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
The answer is no. Any money received for a chapter 61 pension will be offset by any VA compensation that you are paid. My wife had 17 AFS with 20 years in the Reserves and did she did receive her 20 year letter. Reservist and Guardsman don't get both unless they retire with 20 years. Even with 20 years they don't get both unless until they reach the elitible age for their 20 year retirement. So in my wife's case she won't get both paid until she reaches age 60. My wife was also AGR for a large part of her time in.
I am finishing my 20 years....just wondering if it was possible cause i can't seem to get a straight answer from those who are supposed to know.
You stated non-duty DES.... So you are being processed for separation and not retirement then, correct?
If non duty related and 15 or more good years he is medically separated without severance. He will receive a 15 year letter if less than 20 years. If 20 good years or more then a 20 year letter. He will continue to receive VA compensation and once he gets near to retirement age which is age 60 or slightly less if reduced due to qualified deployments he will receive his non regular retirement. If 15 year letter any pension recieved will be offset by his VA compensation. If 20 year letter he will receive his VA compensation and his non regular retirement pension.
One point to add. The reserve/guard pension which is referred to as a non regular retirement pension is not automatic. He must apply for it 6 months before he is eligible to receive it.
Appreciate the refresh. Definitely need to hear it to better help those around me. But I'm wondering if he should be fighting for duty related DES as something got him to 100% VA. He did intro with stating how to be medically retired.
Did he sustain an injury while on orders? Assuming no because no LOD. There a lot more variables for guard/reservist. Its pretty cut and dry for active duty.
So the only way to give advice for those Soldiers is for them to give a ton of details to give them the best advice.
Yep, honestly it's how you and this board saved me being guard. These talks helped me to finally understand the value of an LOD which allowed me to secure one 15 years later changing a separation to duty related retirement.
Had a feeling this guy here may not even know to ask like me.