Extending MEB/PEB process

[kevin h]

Does anyone know how to prolong the PEB process? I am just getting ready to start my MEB tomorrow due to seizures. However, I was hoping to extend my MEB/PEB process since I’m an Officer, I want to take full advantage of Tuition Assistance without having to take on additional years in service. My injury has resulted in a huge change of plans for me and I just want to make sure I can get the most out of my time on active duty. Im stationed overseas so ill have to PCS back to the states before my MEB can start so that will add some time but any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[usafaviator]

Does anyone know how to prolong the PEB process? I am just getting ready to start my MEB tomorrow due to seizures. However, I was hoping to extend my MEB/PEB process since I’m an Officer, I want to take full advantage of Tuition Assistance without having to take on additional years in service. My injury has resulted in a huge change of plans for me and I just want to make sure I can get the most out of my time on active duty. Im stationed overseas so ill have to PCS back to the states before my MEB can start so that will add some time but any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Once the MEB is officially initiated (you sign your paperwork), there isn't a whole lot to do to slow the process. But, don't get discouraged- this process typically takes 6 months or more start to finish, and tagging in earned and permissive (terminal) leave in there adds a bit of time. Additionally, taking the maximum amount of time allowed to accomplish the stages (NARSUM review, etc.) will stretch it out a bit. Other areas to utilize to extend include: requesting an IMR, appealing to FPEB and higher (each appeal takes time)...however, unless your results return undesirable/inaccurate, appealing is typically not a good course of action.
I'm not sure how the regs govern tuition assistance while undergoing a MEB, they might not even allow it. If they allow it, you should be able to knock out a semester or two before you're out (if you are not retained, of course). A caveat might be if you take advantage of the certification allowance (one per career) and start a program that requires full payment of entire program upfront (even though the course might last a year or more). Remember you still have the GI Bill, Voc rehab and other programs to help advance your education when you retire.

 

[Dcmd124]

Kevin,

Are you getting ready to PCS? My thoughts on the process: I took the maximum amount of time to sign the paperwork at every stage. I requested the IMR, then submitted my MEB Non-concurrance. You will have ten days to make your election when your Informal PEB comes back as well. I was referred in Aug 2011 and just now received my retirement orders with an end date in April 2013.
Another factor is where your MEB is initiated at. Some reason or another some installations seem faster than others.

At this point, I would start gathering all of your medical records and documenting all of your conditions. Start reaching out to some of the VSO's and don't forget about the Soldier's Counsel.

Good luck to you.

 

[kevin h]

I just got issued my P3 yesterday and have yet to get my IDES brief. After I receive my IDES brief, I’m told I will come up on orders in 90-120 days and then PCS somewhere back in the states. However, I have heard there is some speculation about whether or not they are still sending people overseas back to the states to complete the MEB since the WTU's back in the states are so overbooked. So I guess time will only tell, but thanks for the advice on how to slow things down!

 

[Warrior644]

I truly understand your situation and commend you on continuing your educational aspirations while still on active duty in the military.

From my experiences, please beware of the DoVA C&P Examination physicians who are very "clever" in hiding their true subjective opinions while administering the C&P examination(s). Some key warnings are when the VA physician makes a comment of "that's rare" and states "I don't rely upon other physician(s) test results...I like to perform my own." The latter tactic is valid, but you won't know the outcome of those test results until receipt of the VA C&P Exam report(s) after the MEB NARSUM is dictated. Afterwards, the NARSUM is completed by the MEB physician and presented to you via your PEBLO within the MEB phase.

Albeit, if time permits, it's always an excellent course of action to request a copy of the C&P Exam results upon completion by the VA C&P Exam physician(s) from your local VA Regional Office; it's free upon showing a valid military ID.

My very unpleasant VA C&P Exam experiences resulted in requesting an IMR and MEB Appeal for a medical condition which was intensionally misdiagnosed by VA and deemed medically acceptable by the MEB physician. Having prior knowledge of the C&P Exam physician's negative subjective opinions via receipt of the VA C&P Exam results, I was able to compile my objective medical evidence for potential submittal of an IMR and follow-on MEB Soldier's Appeal.

Forturnately, I was successful in my MEB Appeal and the "incorrectly" diagnosed condition was changed and then annotated as "medically unacceptable." Unfortunately, I was not able to reschedule the two C&P Exams because "IDES processing requirement timelines" apparently had higher priority. So, the two extreme unjustifiably written C&P Exam reports will be seen by the D-RAS during the PEB's VA rating phase.

Thus, it's to your extreme benefit to get the medical conditions initially annotated correctly while within the MEB phase. Hopefully, my 1-page IMR memo with a 22-page enclosure (objective medical evidence), and a 7-page MEB Soldier's appeal with a 57-page enclosure (objective medical evidence) will also be reviewed by the D-RAS during the PEB's VA rating phase.

Moreover, I am expecting to receive an extremely "low" VA rating for the aforemetioned MEB referred unfit condition. Why? Because the VA C&P Exam physician annotated "yes" after the next lowest category within the summary section which directly aligns to the VASRD's general rating formula.

With that all said, naturally, this is a huge concern for my family because I potentially don't have any "new medical evidence" in order to submit a PEB one-time "request for reconsideration" of the unfit rating(s) from the D-RAS.

Best Wishes