Need Guidance on Overall MEB/PEB Process going forward

Hi all,

I am a 22 Male, going through a MEB with the Airforce, struggling with multiple mental/neuro-psychological/physical conditions. Job is working as a Client Systems Tech (IT). Incredible overwhelmed with figuring this all out as a process.

I got notified of my MEB last October 2024 after diagnosis of my "Unfit" condition per Medical Standard Directory, Hypersomnia due to a Medical Condition.


I am wanting to get out and not be found fit for duty. I hope for a disability rating of 30%+ as I believe that's where healthcare costs are covered.


questions
1. Do I need an attorney for this IDES Process going through my MEB and potential PEB? I saw people discussing this on the forum and wasn't too sure what cases people need one? If I continue going blind, what impacts does this have going forward?

2. My peblo said the following today, does anyone know exactly what it means?

"your VA exam results have been released to our office and we are working with the providers to make any necessary updates to the initial NARSUM from your IRILO.
Once this step is completed, the Ramstein local board will convene and determine if you should Return to Duty or be referred to the Physical Evaluation Board to prepare for medical separation/ retirement.
We highly recommend you reach out to the ODC office to help with the Impartial Medical Review. The next email you will receive from our office will be about the IMR elections."

I replied back my thoughts were:
- What did the VA Exam Results say?
- Why do updates to the NARSUM have to happen? Is this a normal occurrence?
- Can you provide me the ODC Office information please. And do I reach out now? With what information do I reach out to provide them with, as I don’t have anything other than “I am in a MEB”.
- Your message says, “Once this step is completed, the Ramstein local board will convene and determine”, is this the same people evaluating my stuff before, and they are simply re-evaluating my case again with an updated NARSUM, or is this separate from the initial process?

3. Is this still an accurate roadmap to understanding my process: https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/Portals/23/documents/05_CLASSIFICATION/DES Roadmap.pdf


Thank you all!




More info on my timeline and conditions below:

Treatment Phase
  • Aug 2024 – Diagnosed by off-base provider of Idiopathic Hypersomnia, then as part of Irilo for sleep disorder they want to confirm your sleep diagnosis and referred me to wright-patt sleep clinic to which they diagnosed me with Hypersomnia due to a Medical Condition.
  • Oct 2024 – PCM Notified of Unfit Condition
  • Nov 2024 - Nurse Case Manager & PEBLO Contact
  • 4 Dec 2025 – Case compiled AMRO / Went to IRILO
  • 7 Feb 2025 – IRILO recommended Full MEB


  • Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) Phase
    • 10 Feb 2025 – Submitted IDES Election Statement to PEBLO
      • PEBLO handed my case over to VA
    • Mar 2025 – VA Military Service Coordinator (MSC) contact
    • 4 Mar 2025 – Phone call with MSC filled out Form 21-526EZ (VA claims form) (had 10 claims but not confident on how they were listed)
    • Mar 2025 – VA Scheduled C&P exams
    • 18 Mar Thru Apr 17 – C&P exams; had 9 QTC Appts: Head to Toe, Vertigo and Dizziness, PFT, CT Scans, Audiogram, Mental health, psychological etc...
    • 22 May 2025 – PEBLO received VA Results
      • "As your PEBLO I want to inform you that your VA exam results have been released to our office and we are working with the providers to make any necessary updates to the initial NARSUM from your IRILO.

        Once this step is completed, the Ramstein local board will convene and determine if you should Return to Duty or be referred to the Physical Evaluation Board to prepare for medical separation/ retirement.

        We highly recommend you reach out to the ODC office to help with the Impartial Medical Review. The next email you will receive from our office will be about the IMR elections."


Conditions diagnosed with during service:
ADHD-C (Feb 2024)
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1 (Mar 2025)
Anxiety Disorder (Feb 2024)
Idiopathic Hypersomnia (Sept 2024) (Local off base provider diagnosed as is, but AF Neurologist when confirming diagnosis during IRILO, diagnosed as Hypersomnia due to a medical condition, instead.)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (Mar 2022)
Sleep-Related Hypoventilation (Jul 2023)
Morton's Neuroma, left foot (Nov 2024)
Metatarsalgia, right foot (Nov 2024)
Deviated Septum (Aug 2024) (had surgery to correct Sept 2024)
Enlarged Turbinate's (Aug 2024) (had surgery to correct Sept 2024) + year round allergies
Paranasal Sinus Disease (Nov 2022)
Concussion, from MVA (Nov 2022)
TBI, from Physical Assault (Mar 2024)
Chronic inducible urticaria (May 2025)
Myocarditis (November 2023) (was an acute condition that lasted a few months, was cleared in Feb 2024)
Sciatica (April 2025)
Secondary Hypogonadism (sort of)


There are other things I struggle with that aren't diagnosed but have been brought up to providers,
- Depression
- PTSD
- OCD
- DPDR
- Tinnitus
- In Physical Therapy right now, referred by PCM due to another MVA this last December, for ongoing: sciatic nerve pain/glute pain sitting, lower back pain.
- Also in Psychical Occupational Therapy currently for my right pinky from MVA 1 in 2022, it got bent and doesn't sit with other fingers leading to some loss of function.


10 Claims I put on initial VA Form, and likely weren't listed-claimed well:
- Hypersomnia
- Hypoventilation
- Sleep Apnea
- Concussion
- TBI
- Shortness of Breath (dyspnea)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sinus Issues
- Bilateral Foot Pain

This above list is not including other scenarios happening during service like example: getting heat exhaustion on a deployment and passed out onto floor making me seek Medical for Treatment at on base clinic. Encounter was documented. But other scenarios like this that could be contributing to current issues going on
 
Click to expand...
Are you being evaluated for duty or non-duty related IDES?

How many years do you have active/reserve?
 
I’m being evaluated if I’m Fit for duty, so duty related IDES process I assume.

I enlisted December 2020 so it’s been 4 years and 5 months.
 
Sarin said:
Hi all,

I am a 22 Male, going through a MEB with the Airforce, struggling with multiple mental/neuro-psychological/physical conditions. Job is working as a Client Systems Tech (IT). Incredible overwhelmed with figuring this all out as a process.

I got notified of my MEB last October 2024 after diagnosis of my "Unfit" condition per Medical Standard Directory, Hypersomnia due to a Medical Condition.


I am wanting to get out and not be found fit for duty. I hope for a disability rating of 30%+ as I believe that's where healthcare costs are covered.


questions
1. Do I need an attorney for this IDES Process going through my MEB and potential PEB? I saw people discussing this on the forum and wasn't too sure what cases people need one? If I continue going blind, what impacts does this have going forward?

2. My peblo said the following today, does anyone know exactly what it means?

"your VA exam results have been released to our office and we are working with the providers to make any necessary updates to the initial NARSUM from your IRILO.
Once this step is completed, the Ramstein local board will convene and determine if you should Return to Duty or be referred to the Physical Evaluation Board to prepare for medical separation/ retirement.
We highly recommend you reach out to the ODC office to help with the Impartial Medical Review. The next email you will receive from our office will be about the IMR elections."

I replied back my thoughts were:
- What did the VA Exam Results say?
- Why do updates to the NARSUM have to happen? Is this a normal occurrence?
- Can you provide me the ODC Office information please. And do I reach out now? With what information do I reach out to provide them with, as I don’t have anything other than “I am in a MEB”.
- Your message says, “Once this step is completed, the Ramstein local board will convene and determine”, is this the same people evaluating my stuff before, and they are simply re-evaluating my case again with an updated NARSUM, or is this separate from the initial process?

3. Is this still an accurate roadmap to understanding my process: https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/Portals/23/documents/05_CLASSIFICATION/DES Roadmap.pdf


Thank you all!




More info on my timeline and conditions below:

Treatment Phase
  • Aug 2024 – Diagnosed by off-base provider of Idiopathic Hypersomnia, then as part of Irilo for sleep disorder they want to confirm your sleep diagnosis and referred me to wright-patt sleep clinic to which they diagnosed me with Hypersomnia due to a Medical Condition.
  • Oct 2024 – PCM Notified of Unfit Condition
  • Nov 2024 - Nurse Case Manager & PEBLO Contact
  • 4 Dec 2025 – Case compiled AMRO / Went to IRILO
  • 7 Feb 2025 – IRILO recommended Full MEB


  • Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) Phase
    • 10 Feb 2025 – Submitted IDES Election Statement to PEBLO
      • PEBLO handed my case over to VA
    • Mar 2025 – VA Military Service Coordinator (MSC) contact
    • 4 Mar 2025 – Phone call with MSC filled out Form 21-526EZ (VA claims form) (had 10 claims but not confident on how they were listed)
    • Mar 2025 – VA Scheduled C&P exams
    • 18 Mar Thru Apr 17 – C&P exams; had 9 QTC Appts: Head to Toe, Vertigo and Dizziness, PFT, CT Scans, Audiogram, Mental health, psychological etc...
    • 22 May 2025 – PEBLO received VA Results
      • "As your PEBLO I want to inform you that your VA exam results have been released to our office and we are working with the providers to make any necessary updates to the initial NARSUM from your IRILO.

        Once this step is completed, the Ramstein local board will convene and determine if you should Return to Duty or be referred to the Physical Evaluation Board to prepare for medical separation/ retirement.

        We highly recommend you reach out to the ODC office to help with the Impartial Medical Review. The next email you will receive from our office will be about the IMR elections."


Conditions diagnosed with during service:
ADHD-C (Feb 2024)
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1 (Mar 2025)
Anxiety Disorder (Feb 2024)
Idiopathic Hypersomnia (Sept 2024) (Local off base provider diagnosed as is, but AF Neurologist when confirming diagnosis during IRILO, diagnosed as Hypersomnia due to a medical condition, instead.)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (Mar 2022)
Sleep-Related Hypoventilation (Jul 2023)
Morton's Neuroma, left foot (Nov 2024)
Metatarsalgia, right foot (Nov 2024)
Deviated Septum (Aug 2024) (had surgery to correct Sept 2024)
Enlarged Turbinate's (Aug 2024) (had surgery to correct Sept 2024) + year round allergies
Paranasal Sinus Disease (Nov 2022)
Concussion, from MVA (Nov 2022)
TBI, from Physical Assault (Mar 2024)
Chronic inducible urticaria (May 2025)
Myocarditis (November 2023) (was an acute condition that lasted a few months, was cleared in Feb 2024)
Sciatica (April 2025)
Secondary Hypogonadism (sort of)


There are other things I struggle with that aren't diagnosed but have been brought up to providers,
- Depression
- PTSD
- OCD
- DPDR
- Tinnitus
- In Physical Therapy right now, referred by PCM due to another MVA this last December, for ongoing: sciatic nerve pain/glute pain sitting, lower back pain.
- Also in Psychical Occupational Therapy currently for my right pinky from MVA 1 in 2022, it got bent and doesn't sit with other fingers leading to some loss of function.


10 Claims I put on initial VA Form, and likely weren't listed-claimed well:
- Hypersomnia
- Hypoventilation
- Sleep Apnea
- Concussion
- TBI
- Shortness of Breath (dyspnea)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sinus Issues
- Bilateral Foot Pain

This above list is not including other scenarios happening during service like example: getting heat exhaustion on a deployment and passed out onto floor making me seek Medical for Treatment at on base clinic. Encounter was documented. But other scenarios like this that could be contributing to current issues going on
Click to expand...
I replied in duplicate post. Sent PM too.
 
Sarin said:
I’m being evaluated if I’m Fit for duty, so duty related IDES process I assume.

I enlisted December 2020 so it’s been 4 years and 5 months.
Click to expand...
That is not how you determine it. Whether or not you are for for duty is separate from whether or not the IDES process is duty related or not. The point is if you are under 8 years active, they find you are unfit and it is not duty related, you will be separated without DoD benefits.
 
DaveK said:
That is not how you determine it. Whether or not you are for for duty is separate from whether or not the IDES process is duty related or not. The point is if you are under 8 years active, they find you are unfit and it is not duty related, you will be separated without DoD benefits.
Click to expand...
Just to clarify for anyone reading — being under 8 years active doesn’t automatically mean you’re separated without DoD benefits. The 8-year rule only applies to pre-existing conditions and whether service aggravation is presumed.

In cases where a condition begins during service, is diagnosed during service, and directly causes duty restrictions or an inability to perform the MOS, the member still goes through the IDES process and can absolutely qualify for DoD disability benefits, even with less than 8 years in.

Hypersomnia/central hypersomnia isn’t something that can be marked as ‘existed prior’ without documentation at MEPS. If the condition was discovered during active service and is now causing LIMDU, safety restrictions, and an MEB referral, it’s considered service-incurred. That triggers IDES regardless of time in service.

So yes — an unfit finding under 8 years can lead to separation with no severance, but only if the condition was clearly pre-existing and not aggravated by service. That’s not the case for someone whose condition was diagnosed and worsened while on active duty.
 
"That’s not the case for someone whose condition was diagnosed and worsened while on active duty." ... Assuming you mean the active duty itself worsened the condition. That would then make it "duty related".

So this statement "The point is if you are under 8 years active, they find you are unfit and it is not duty related, you will be separated without DoD benefits." Is still accurate.
 
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