Profile/MEB Question

[crewdog15t]

I am a 100% VA National Guard soldier after I got injured on my last deployment in 2023. Bulging disks all down my cervical and lumbar spine with spondylosis. Have failed PT and injections through pain management. Doctor says there is nothing more to do, except surgery, which doesn’t interest me at 36 years old. I was referred for a MEB because I received a P3 for my lumbar spine after multiple temp profiles, but never got a profile for my neck. I chose the LDES route, and have my initial appointment with a MEB physician in a few weeks.

My cervical and lumber spine have the same exact issues, and I have reached the point where there is nothing more that can be done for either. I never got a profile for my cervical injury because I was already on a deadman profile for my back, so I didn’t see a need.

Is there anything I can do to get my cervical injury added for my MEB as a referred condition? I was under the impression that I would be able to add more conditions later, but my PEBLO mentioned that the MEB physician is only seeing me for my referred conditions. I am only rated 20% for my lumbar spine through the VA, and another 20% for my cervical. Am I screwed?

TYIA

 

[S3Mi]

This is just going based on memory from when I did the MEB Briefing, so feel free to correct any errors. If you chose LDES, then it is only for your referred condition. You can add more conditions... once you are out of service. While you are in service, the LDES is only going to apply to what you got referred for. This is why they say 99% of people choose IDES because you can do everything at once.

LDES - You will be out substantially faster than someone who chooses IDES.
IDES - You can claim anything and everything. Many people have between 10-40 claims and see multiple doctors for evaluations. That's why this process takes much longer.

Unfortunately, once you have chosen LDES, you cannot switch back to IDES. You are not screwed, you are just going to have to do legwork when you get out to file additional claims, and once you are out you fall into the same pool as everyone else filing, so it could take years for you get additional ratings approved (you'd receive backpay though from your date of filing).

Again, this is just going off how I remember everything being explained to me. Honestly, I am surprised they even let you choose LDES.

 

[crewdog15t]

This is just going based on memory from when I did the MEB Briefing, so feel free to correct any errors. If you chose LDES, then it is only for your referred condition. You can add more conditions... once you are out of service. While you are in service, the LDES is only going to apply to what you got referred for. This is why they say 99% of people choose IDES because you can do everything at once.

LDES - You will be out substantially faster than someone who chooses IDES.
IDES - You can claim anything and everything. Many people have between 10-40 claims and see multiple doctors for evaluations. That's why this process takes much longer.

Unfortunately, once you have chosen LDES, you cannot switch back to IDES. You are not screwed, you are just going to have to do legwork when you get out to file additional claims, and once you are out you fall into the same pool as everyone else filing, so it could take years for you get additional ratings approved (you'd receive backpay though from your date of filing).

Again, this is just going off how I remember everything being explained to me. Honestly, I am surprised they even let you choose LDES.

I was told to choose LDES because I am 100% P&T through the VA. I already have a VA rating for both my lumber and cervical spine (20% each), but I want told that for LDES you are only seen for your referred conditions. Thank you for your response.

 

[Provis]

I am a 100% VA National Guard soldier after I got injured on my last deployment in 2023. Bulging disks all down my cervical and lumbar spine with spondylosis. Have failed PT and injections through pain management. Doctor says there is nothing more to do, except surgery, which doesn’t interest me at 36 years old. I was referred for a MEB because I received a P3 for my lumbar spine after multiple temp profiles, but never got a profile for my neck. I chose the LDES route, and have my initial appointment with a MEB physician in a few weeks.

My cervical and lumber spine have the same exact issues, and I have reached the point where there is nothing more that can be done for either. I never got a profile for my cervical injury because I was already on a deadman profile for my back, so I didn’t see a need.

Is there anything I can do to get my cervical injury added for my MEB as a referred condition? I was under the impression that I would be able to add more conditions later, but my PEBLO mentioned that the MEB physician is only seeing me for my referred conditions. I am only rated 20% for my lumbar spine through the VA, and another 20% for my cervical. Am I screwed?

TYIA

You could have chosen IDES and only put down your referred conditions and stated on the application that you wanted the rating for DOD% purposes only. That would have protected your VA ratings and given you more protections since LDES doesn't have many protections on the military side.

 

[crewdog15t]

You could have chosen IDES and only put down your referred conditions and stated on the application that you wanted the rating for DOD% purposes only. That would have protected your VA ratings and given you more protections since LDES doesn't have many protections on the military side.

I didn’t know that was an option, bummer. I was encouraged to do LDES by my PEBLO and Legal because of my VA rating. Looking back I would have preferred that, especially because I thought I would be able to add referred conditions, but apparently not in LDES. My PEBLO said to just see if the MEB Physician will add my cervical issue, but she can’t speak to if that will actually happen or not. Sounds like I have a fight ahead of me.

 

[Provis]

I didn’t know that was an option, bummer. I was encouraged to do LDES by my PEBLO and Legal because of my VA rating. Looking back I would have preferred that, especially because I thought I would be able to add referred conditions, but apparently not in LDES. My PEBLO said to just see if the MEB Physician will add my cervical issue, but she can’t speak to if that will actually happen or not. Sounds like I have a fight ahead of me.

yeah it is an option. LDES is almost never worth it. I bet you needed to sign some type of form to do LDES right? That's because you lose a lot of rights in LDES. LDES was the old system. Technically in LDES the military can give you a different rating than what the VA gave. Lots less appeals that you can do.

PEBLO's are paperpushers. They want you to do LDES as its less work for them. Also, there are some that do full IDES and get rerated for everything. Never ran across anyone that got a lower rating. Basically people choose LDES due to fear. The funny thing is that the goal should be to get it right. Not protect something. If you are 100% and your symptoms are the same. Why would the VA lower your rating? Actually, the VA is lazy. If they see you already have a rating they tend to keep it the same or raise it.

Now if you are better and know it then LDES or IDES with the directive to rate for DOD purposes only would be better. However, the goal should be to get the correct rating. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror if I knew I was getting compensation that I didn't deserve.

 

[crewdog15t]

You could have chosen IDES and only put down your referred conditions and stated on the application that you wanted the rating for DOD% purposes only. That would have protected your VA ratings and given you more protections since LDES doesn't have many protections on the military side.

 

[crewdog15t]

yeah it is an option. LDES is almost never worth it. I bet you needed to sign some type of form to do LDES right? That's because you lose a lot of rights in LDES. LDES was the old system. Technically in LDES the military can give you a different rating than what the VA gave. Lots less appeals that you can do.

PEBLO's are paperpushers. They want you to do LDES as its less work for them. Also, there are some that do full IDES and get rerated for everything. Never ran across anyone that got a lower rating. Basically people choose LDES due to fear. The funny thing is that the goal should be to get it right. Not protect something. If you are 100% and your symptoms are the same. Why would the VA lower your rating? Actually, the VA is lazy. If they see you already have a rating they tend to keep it the same or raise it.

Now if you are better and know it then LDES or IDES with the directive to rate for DOD purposes only would be better. However, the goal should be to get the correct rating. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror if I knew I was getting compensation that I didn't deserve.

We’ll shoot. My conditions haven’t gotten better, and have actually gotten worse. I have regrets. I called my PEBLO to ask if it was too late to change to IDES, and she said that even though I haven’t seen the physician, that it is too late to switch. I feel like I really messed up on this decision.

 

[S3Mi]

We’ll shoot. My conditions haven’t gotten better, and have actually gotten worse. I have regrets. I called my PEBLO to ask if it was too late to change to IDES, and she said that even though I haven’t seen the physician, that it is too late to switch. I feel like I really messed up on this decision.

Unfortunately, it will be an uphill battle from here. Doesn't mean it is impossible, but LDES is only chosen by less than 1% of all MEB. I really wish your PEBLO would have been more transparent with you. Once you sign for IDES or LDES that is final. You cannot switch at all. Wishing you the best of luck.