IDES process and existing/established VA ratings

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MSG_Raven2-3

Well-Known Member
PEB Forum Veteran
Registered Member
I am in the process of starting the MEB. I have three referred conditions, back neck and PTSD. I have been rated at 70% with the VA for PTSD for a years and static. Back/neck conditions rated by VA within a year.

The question is, has anyone ever had their existing VA Rating downgraded because of the IDES process?

My concern is that you don’t know what type of Examiner you will get.
 
MSG_Raven2-3 said:
I am in the process of starting the MEB. I have three referred conditions, back neck and PTSD. I have been rated at 70% with the VA for PTSD for a years and static. Back/neck conditions rated by VA within a year.

The question is, has anyone ever had their existing VA Rating downgraded because of the IDES process?

My concern is that you don’t know what type of Examiner you will get.
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I haven't found one person that has had that happen. The VA is lazy. If they have the ratings and all your medical evidence is consistent you don't have much to worry about. I believe there is an option where you can choose the VA not to rate them and still be in IDES vs going to LDES but can't remember the exact wording. IDES has more protections so I recommend it over LDES. If you need to do the new exams you can bring in your last C&P and state nothing has changed.

I know that this is very stressful and yes anything can happen but in reality I haven't seen it hurt anyone. If you are still seeking treatment for the conditions the paper trail the outcome should be the same.
 
Shout out to @DaveK . He did a lot of detective work on this . Entering IDES w/ existing VA Rating or Open VA Claim

Entering IDES w/ existing VA Rating or Open VA Claim

Entering IDES w/ existing VA Rating or Open VA Claim Can a service member/veteran enter the IDES process with an existing VA rating and NOT have that rating reopened/reviewed subjecting the VA rating to a possible different finding? Yes, it appears that a service member/veteran can elect to...
www.pebforum.com www.pebforum.com

also
1. VA Rating Prior to MEB
2. https://www.pebforum.com/threads/going-into-medboard-w-100-va-p-t.72488/
3. 100% P&T w/VA...Headed to MEB, Just need advice!

Read through these. They'll tell you what you need to write on your forms when you speak with the VA MSC.

"Jobey, the form 21-4138 only has the following verbiage pre-filled in it. You just sign and send back to the MSC.

"*************I do not wish to file for VA compensation with the MSC/IDES Program. I am currently SC 100%. Please continue to process my pending 020. ******************************************************************************************"

I hope this helps!
 
TortolliniShell said:
Shout out to @DaveK . He did a lot of detective work on this . Entering IDES w/ existing VA Rating or Open VA Claim

Entering IDES w/ existing VA Rating or Open VA Claim

Entering IDES w/ existing VA Rating or Open VA Claim Can a service member/veteran enter the IDES process with an existing VA rating and NOT have that rating reopened/reviewed subjecting the VA rating to a possible different finding? Yes, it appears that a service member/veteran can elect to...
www.pebforum.com www.pebforum.com

also
1. VA Rating Prior to MEB
2. https://www.pebforum.com/threads/going-into-medboard-w-100-va-p-t.72488/
3. 100% P&T w/VA...Headed to MEB, Just need advice!

Read through these. They'll tell you what you need to write on your forms when you speak with the VA MSC.

"Jobey, the form 21-4138 only has the following verbiage pre-filled in it. You just sign and send back to the MSC.

"*************I do not wish to file for VA compensation with the MSC/IDES Program. I am currently SC 100%. Please continue to process my pending 020. ******************************************************************************************"

I hope this helps!
Click to expand...
This sentence is what I was trying to remember LOL "The service member/veteran must elect to only be examined by the VA via IDES for DoD purposes in their initial meeting with the Military Services Coordinator (MSC)."
 
Provis said:
I haven't found one person that has had that happen. The VA is lazy. If they have the ratings and all your medical evidence is consistent you don't have much to worry about. I believe there is an option where you can choose the VA not to rate them and still be in IDES vs going to LDES but can't remember the exact wording. IDES has more protections so I recommend it over LDES. If you need to do the new exams you can bring in your last C&P and state nothing has changed.

I know that this is very stressful and yes anything can happen but in reality I haven't seen it hurt anyone. If you are still seeking treatment for the conditions the paper trail the outcome should be the same.
Click to expand...
I wanted to THANK YOU GUYS. Back in Feb 2024 I was so confused whether I should do IDES or LDES cause of fears of my rating being affected. Based ON THIS post, I got the courage to go full IDES and had ALL my referred conditions (which were already rated by VA, but lowballed).

Outcome: Just received my VA IDES claim decision letter. ALL of my conditions increased. So glad I took your advice, just waiting on the PEB, but my ratings are high so doubt they’ll squirrel out of it
 
Could I know more info MSG_Raven 2-3.

Did you have to go to any new C&P exam for your increases on rating.

I am already 100 P&T debating on going through the IDES for mental health with my 70% ptsd rating.
 
IF and ONLY IF your REFERRED condition is PTSD then yes you will get a new CP.

I was sweating bullets on that one. Luckily I have plenty of VA records and had the rating for about 10 years so it’s considered “stable and static” so it would be very difficult for VA to downgrade. But the examiner was really the key person, he looked at my records and basically told me “your still 70”
 
MSG_Raven2-3 said:
IF and ONLY IF your REFERRED condition is PTSD then yes you will get a new CP.

I was sweating bullets on that one. Luckily I have plenty of VA records and had the rating for about 10 years so it’s considered “stable and static” so it would be very difficult for VA to downgrade. But the examiner was really the key person, he looked at my records and basically told me “your still 70”
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Okay thank you for that. I am pretty sure that is my only condition that is being referred is PTSD.

My C&P exam for the PTSD is a year old so it’s pretty fresh still. Still a little nervous about another C&P but I’m sure I’ll be fine. At least I hope.

Need a little advice on that since I haven’t submitted all my paperwork back to the unit. Should I go IDES or LDES?

On the separation health assessment should I just put only things involving the PTSD cause I have 8 total rating and I don’t want them to mess with any other ratings going through this process.
 
peterbilt1985 said:
Could I know more info MSG_Raven 2-3.

Did you have to go to any new C&P exam for your increases on rating.

I am already 100 P&T debating on going through the IDES for mental health with my 70% ptsd rating.
Click to expand...
I chose IDES but didn't complete the VA form for any new conditions or increases. I was able to use my exams that were older than 12 months (about 18mos old) via an exception mentioned below.

You want to tell the VA rep that you are not filing new claims or increases. You want to use your current DBQ's for your board. If your current PTSD rating was more than 12 months ago, the VA rep at the medical board will push for you to be re-evaluated. If the rating is less than 12 mos, the VA rep will not send you for new exams.

When I went through the medical board my VSO (local) told me that my previous exams could be used and sent me the exception from the adjudication manual: M21-1 X.i.6.F.2.c. Use of Prior Examination Reports in Lieu of an IDES Examination
Exception: VA may use examination reports that are more than one year old if the participant agrees that the severity of the disabilities at issue has not changed since the prior examination.

It worked out for me. My VA rating was not looked at or changed and my DoD ratings were based off of my old DBQs. It lowered my anxiety significantly while waiting for the PEB determination.

 
Not trying to hijack this discussion, but what happens with a TDRL re exam for a condition that the VA rated as permanent and total?

I’m getting ready to sign my PEB findings, and I don’t know if I should try to fight for PDRL. The way I read it, the PEB will not give PDRL for MH conditions. I previously had 70% before MEB and was increased to 100% with the MEB exam.
 
skycntry said:
Not trying to hijack this discussion, but what happens with a TDRL re exam for a condition that the VA rated as permanent and total?

I’m getting ready to sign my PEB findings, and I don’t know if I should try to fight for PDRL. The way I read it, the PEB will not give PDRL for MH conditions. I previously had 70% before MEB and was increased to 100% with the MEB exam.
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I have not gone through that situation myself but from reading on this website,TDRL relooks only impact DoD ratings, not VA ratings.
Similarly, for me at the med board, I got a 20% rating DoD, for my shoulder and the VA kept my VA rating 0%. I'd gotten 0% VA previously because they'd overlooked the DBQ boxes that granted me 20%. So even though the VA granted 20% in the med board they didn't cross over to "fix" my rating with the VA side.
 
peterbilt1985 said:
Okay thank you for that. I am pretty sure that is my only condition that is being referred is PTSD.

My C&P exam for the PTSD is a year old so it’s pretty fresh still. Still a little nervous about another C&P but I’m sure I’ll be fine. At least I hope.

Need a little advice on that since I haven’t submitted all my paperwork back to the unit. Should I go IDES or LDES?

On the separation health assessment should I just put only things involving the PTSD cause I have 8 total rating and I don’t want them to mess with any other ratings going through this process.
Click to expand...
So if you’re 100 PT for whatever conditions and you’ve only been rated for a year AND your only referred condition is PTSD. Then I would ask the MSC/PEBLO for IDES. When you get to the portion of selecting conditions to add to the VA, since you don’t want to add any, you’ll do a VA 4138(provided by MSC) stating you want your VA exams for “DOD purposes ONLY” which means your still in the IDES process, but your examinations will not affect your VA rating.

Because you only have ONE condition that what I would do. Your rating with the VA still not stable enough with just one year.

However, whatever you did on the last CP you better bring it on this new exam. The CP will still be thru IDES and same type VA examiner. This CP will be the one you need for your DOD rating, so don’t flop.

The guys here told me to select IDES over LDES And they were right, IDES has more protections/ rebuttals in case something goes wrong.
 
TortolliniShell said:
I chose IDES but didn't complete the VA form for any new conditions or increases. I was able to use my exams that were older than 12 months (about 18mos old) via an exception mentioned below.

You want to tell the VA rep that you are not filing new claims or increases. You want to use your current DBQ's for your board. If your current PTSD rating was more than 12 months ago, the VA rep at the medical board will push for you to be re-evaluated. If the rating is less than 12 mos, the VA rep will not send you for new exams.

When I went through the medical board my VSO (local) told me that my previous exams could be used and sent me the exception from the adjudication manual: M21-1 X.i.6.F.2.c. Use of Prior Examination Reports in Lieu of an IDES Examination
Exception: VA may use examination reports that are more than one year old if the participant agrees that the severity of the disabilities at issue has not changed since the prior examination.

It worked out for me. My VA rating was not looked at or changed and
Click to expand...

TortolliniShell said:
I chose IDES but didn't complete the VA form for any new conditions or increases. I was able to use my exams that were older than 12 months (about 18mos old) via an exception mentioned below.

You want to tell the VA rep that you are not filing new claims or increases. You want to use your current DBQ's for your board. If your current PTSD rating was more than 12 months ago, the VA rep at the medical board will push for you to be re-evaluated. If the rating is less than 12 mos, the VA rep will not send you for new exams.

When I went through the medical board my VSO (local) told me that my previous exams could be used and sent me the exception from the adjudication manual: M21-1 X.i.6.F.2.c. Use of Prior Examination Reports in Lieu of an IDES Examination
Exception: VA may use examination reports that are more than one year old if the participant agrees that the severity of the disabilities at issue has not changed since the prior examination.

It worked out for me. My VA rating was not looked at or changed and my DoD ratings were based off of my old DBQs. It lowered my anxiety significantly while waiting for the PEB determination.
Click to expand...

My anxiety is up there dealing with all this.

If I have more questions I’ll definitely be asking if you don’t mind.

Thank you very much for the info.
 
MSG_Raven2-3 said:
So if you’re 100 PT for whatever conditions and you’ve only been rated for a year AND your only referred condition is PTSD. Then I would ask the MSC/PEBLO for IDES. When you get to the portion of selecting conditions to add to the VA, since you don’t want to add any, you’ll do a VA 4138(provided by MSC) stating you want your VA exams for “DOD purposes ONLY” which means your still in the IDES process, but your examinations will not affect your VA rating.

Because you only have ONE condition that what I would do. Your rating with the VA still not stable enough with just one year.

However, whatever you did on the last CP you better bring it on this new exam. The CP will still be thru IDES and same type VA examiner. This CP will be the one you need for your DOD rating, so don’t flop.

The guys here told me to select IDES over LDES And they were right, IDES has more protections/ rebuttals in case something goes wrong.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it.

What I should have said is that all my symptoms are still somewhat fresh from that c&p.
 
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