PDBR possibility

Crowley86

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
Hello everyone. Wondering if I should even bother with PDBR review based on my situation. During the PEB in 2004 I was found unfit based on "Chronic uncomplicated nonradicular low back pain"- given 10% and "chronic bilateral hip pain-given 0%, med boarded in June 2004. The VA rated those same two as "chronic low back spasm"/20% and 10% for each hip ("greater trochanter bursitis") in Aug 2004. 40% overall. I know they'll only review what was originally rated, so based on those numbers what do you think my chances are?

I haven't been to the VA in 6 yrs due to a very traumatic ER experience and my VA dr was actually fired years ago and I've never been back. Heck, I hadn't had health insurance in so long I just had my first dr appt two months ago. I'm not ok. Depression is always there and my body just doesn't stop hurting. I just don't have any current dr visits to show that.

[Of course the PEB didn't include any of the mental health stuff even though they had me in counseling for depression. Anyway, I'm now 90% overall which includes the depression, and migraines (w/vertigo)].

Any input/advice is appreciated.
 
hello How to Apply to the PDBR I'm out on army since 2014 i don't get nothing on army just the va rate me a 90 can i still apply a PDBR?
 
hello How to Apply to the PDBR I'm out on army since 2014 i don't get nothing on army just the va rate me a 90 can i still apply a PDBR?
Tim, the discharge cutoff is 2009. Seems you were discharged 5 years after which doesn't make you eligible for the PDBR. You can always look into the BCMR or ARBA.
 
Hello everyone. Wondering if I should even bother with PDBR review based on my situation. During the PEB in 2004 I was found unfit based on "Chronic uncomplicated nonradicular low back pain"- given 10% and "chronic bilateral hip pain-given 0%, med boarded in June 2004. The VA rated those same two as "chronic low back spasm"/20% and 10% for each hip ("greater trochanter bursitis") in Aug 2004. 40% overall. I know they'll only review what was originally rated, so based on those numbers what do you think my chances are?

I haven't been to the VA in 6 yrs due to a very traumatic ER experience and my VA dr was actually fired years ago and I've never been back. Heck, I hadn't had health insurance in so long I just had my first dr appt two months ago. I'm not ok. Depression is always there and my body just doesn't stop hurting. I just don't have any current dr visits to show that.

[Of course the PEB didn't include any of the mental health stuff even though they had me in counseling for depression. Anyway, I'm now 90% overall which includes the depression, and migraines (w/vertigo)].

Any input/advice is appreciated.
Hello:)

The whole "guessing what you will get" is not based on any actual research or pattern anyone has been able to discern from the PDBR cases. What I can tell you is that you have nothing to lose by just applying and forgetting about it. Then you'll get notified and it is in your favor or it isn't but you have lost nothing. It doesn't affect your VA rating.

Now speaking of lack of VA medical treatments in previous years it shouldn't, and I emphasize shouldn't, affect you. They look at treatment records for the first year after discharge. Nothing recent. They need to know how your condition was when you got out, not how it is now, so they can determine what you should have been rated at at discharge.
 
Keebs, the problem with my discharge was that I was told after my emergency heart surgery and soon after with my memory loss, irregular heart rate that that's why I was being discharged. My PEB didn't mention any of this on my paperwork. It's disturbing. The VA caught wind of what happened and immediately notified me when I got out. So if the PDBR is just checking what was written at the PEB then it's not right. I questioned the rating and was told if i fight it I would lose the 10 percent and be discharged due to Higher Tiner. So I left it alone.
 
I experienced the same thing. Was told to keep my mouth shut during the PEB process or the doctor would make sure I would receive a dishonorable discharge. The PDBR uses treatment records from the VA including your Comp and Pen exam to investigate your case. I was put in the TDRL and at my first re-eval the following year was told nothing was wrong with me. The Army docs that examined me said nothing was wrong with me. The PDBR disagreed with the Army doctors, the doctors at Madigan mind you which is one of the best Army hospitals, and gave me a permanent retirement. It is possible to win with the situation you are in. The least you can do is try!
 
Thank you, Keebs.
I have all of my records from the original review. Is that what I would need to send in? Or is that something they would have on file? I guess it wouldn't hurt to send it in though. Either way I think I'll get the process started. Like you said I have nothing to lose.
Also, is there a certain percentage that they (PDBR) issue that automatically makes someone qualify for medical retirement? Like if they issue a 30% or more that's their go ahead for retirement? Just wondering.
 
As far as record gathering you can send in COPIES of what you have with your application. They will also request your records from VA and your branch of service. 30% is the cutoff for retirement.

Are these postings all the from the same person? I can't tell if you created 3 accounts or if I am talking to 3 different people!
 
Are these postings all the from the same person? I can't tell if you created 3 accounts or if I am talking to 3 different people![/QUOTE]

Lol. I don't know either. All I know is I'm the original poster! I have no idea about the other two comments! Thank you for your input!
 
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