After being transitioned into a WTU and going through the IDES I received my ratings from the IPEB. The DOD and VA rated me both a 30% yet they recommend me for permanent retirement. I don't understand how a condition rated so low warrants a retirement. The rating is for MS and if you didn't know 30% is the absolute minimum you can get for MS with no symptoms. So they are essentially saying I have little symptoms but still want to retire me.
Rated 30% yet put on PRDL
- Thread starter Fyrz12
- Start date
By law, thirty percent (30%) DoD is the minimum rating for a disability retirement.
Evidently, the medical board found you physically unfit for continued service.
@Provis an @chaplaincharlie might add their remarks.
Ron
Either I don't understand the question, or you don't understand the way disability retirement works. Do you have a PEBLO? They should definitely be giving you this info.
20% or less DOD disability rating results in separation from service, with severance pay.
30% or more DOD disability rating results in disability retirement, either temporary (TDRL) or permanent (PDRL).
20% or less DOD disability rating results in separation from service, with severance pay.
30% or more DOD disability rating results in disability retirement, either temporary (TDRL) or permanent (PDRL).
Basically I know that 30% gets you retirement which also happens to be the rating of MS with no symptoms. My VA claims I guess weren't significant enough to warrant a higher percentage. Basically what I'm trying to say is I want to be RTD but I'm being retired even though I have minimal symptoms. Hopefully that makes more sense.
Ok, 2 things.
Yes, MS will get you found unfit. Perhaps you could fight it to RTD if you were managing with meds, but every MS case I've heard of was found unfit. So I'm not surprised.
Also, looks like you are mixing knowledge of DOD and VA processes. "My VA claims weren't high enough to warrant a higher percentage." That statement does not make any sense. VA claims have nothing to do with your DOD rating and your disability retirement from dod. The two processes are separate, and have slightly different requirements for what will get you a rating. DOD ratings are only given for those conditions which actually make you unfit to continue service, such as your MS. VA rating is a little bit of a broader category of anything that negatively impacts your quality of life that you can attribute to military service, even if it is not bad enough to actually make you unfit to continue service if you were still in.
You are rated based on how bad your symptoms are at the time of the exam. Not how bad things may get in 5, 10, 15 years…. Once a DoD rating is established it usually remains the same. The VA rating can be adjusted as your MS progresses.
If you believe your MS was not correctly rated ask you PEBLO to help you request a VARR. This is a onetime VA Re-Rating.
If you believe your MS was not correctly rated ask you PEBLO to help you request a VARR. This is a onetime VA Re-Rating.
I didn't clarify but I got rated 30% by the VA as well that's why I said that. I've heard of people going back with MS, if there wasn't any I would understand but there's people that have reached out that have told me they got sent back.
Your chances are slim to none on getting RTD with MS. If you believe the VA rating matches up with your symptoms I would accept the findings. I know that may be hard to hear since you want to stay in but that's your reality. If you believe that the VA messed up and your symptoms warrant a higher rating then what @chaplaincharlie said is correct. Request a VARR and try to get the rating increased because the DOD will mirror that rating for your PDRL medical retirement leaving you with a higher monthly compensation amount. Most that fight for a fit finding end up with the worst result as they minimize their symptoms to medical personnel to try to show that they can still serve. The problem is that there are certain conditions that will have a very high chance of being found unfit regardless of the symptoms.
If you are close to hitting your 20 years of AFS after you are found unfit you can apply for COAD. That is where they let you stay in and accommodate your disability and you continue to work until you can retire at 20 years. You need to have at least 15 years of AD time in to qualify to submit a COAD packet.
Looking in the CFR for the ratings standards for MS. You should be able to compare the standar to your medical condition and determine if you were fairly rated.
Decided to take the retirement. Want to put myself in the best position and I think retirement is the best way forward. Thanks guys.
You can still file more claims with the VA to increase your rating
Happy for you.