New Member - Medical Board

[TRose10000]

Hi, I'm a new member to this forum. I'm a 14 yr Marine major that just underwent my second major back surgery in 5 years. It's very likely I will be discharged or retired and I'm just waiting to go through the process. If anyone has any useful information about Medical Boards relating to spinal fusions, I would certainly be interested.

Thank You.
TRose

[TinCanMan]

TRose:

I'm not an expert on the MEB/PEB process so I can't say much about it. A few of our members have gone thru it and can tell of their experience. I do know you are entitled to legal representation during a formal PEB. The smart money is on taking advantage of it. If you accept a disability of less than 30% that means separation and not medical retirement. Separation is not a good deal for the soldier with 14 years in.

I've put together a list of links important to the process. It's a bit dated and most is Army specific but the principles apply to all branches. Some links may be broken as I haven't checked them lately.

There's another forum called The Physical Evaluation Board Forum started by a former JAG officer. You might get more specific help on MEB/PEB there.


General Information Pertaining to all Services

Severance Pay Tax refund
http://pom-ima.monterey.army.mil/sit...x%20Refund.pdf

Physical Evaluation Boards Explained
http://pom-ima.monterey.army.mil/sit..._explained.pdf

Disability Evaluation System - DAV
http://www.dav.org/veterans/document...stem_guide.pdf

VASRD-Veteran's Affairs Schedule of Rating Disabilities (38 CFR, Part 4)
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...dno=38;cc=ecfr

DAV Organization GuideBook
http://www.dav.org/veterans/document...stem_guide.pdf

DOD Disability Evaluation System Overview. Read Chapt 3 First.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1228/

Overview of process by a lawyer site
1) http://www.kentucky-lawyer.com/peb.htm
2) https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Publ...s/chapter4.pdf

DOD Application of the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/c...t/i133239p.txt

TriCare Fact Sheets
http://www.tricare.osd.mil/factsheet...eet.cfm?id=267

DFAS Disability Separation Pay Regs: See Pg 18
http://www.dod.mil/comptroller/fmr/07a/index.html

DoD Financial Management Regulation
http://www.dod.mil/comptroller/fmr/07a/07a_35.pdf

Entitlement to disability compensation and separation pay
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2...38cfr3.700.htm

Info Paper on Severance Pay Tax Refund
http://www.monterey.army.mil/staff/S...x%20Refund.pdf

DISABILITY SEPARATION OVERVIEW for all Services
http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p360_506.pdf

Promotion while pending Medical Board
https://perscomnd04.army.mil/milperm...a?OpenDocument

MADIGAN PowerPoint Presentation from PEBLO office
http://www.mamc.amedd.army.mil/rho-s...%20Burnham.pps

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
http://www.mhsophsc.org/public/mm_gu..._Resources.pdf


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARMY SPECIFIC WEBSITES

PEB Area of Responsibility Map
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active...FTLpebmap2.htm

LINE OF DUTY REGULATION
https://aepubs.army.mil/pdfpubs/r600_8_4.pdf

Overview by Physical Disability Agency
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active...rview32564.pdf

Army PDA WEBSITE
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/active...da/pdapage.htm

Walter Reed(Under SOLDIERS(On left side)Click Admin&Military Info; then scroll down and click on Medical Evaluation Boards that is under Patient Administration Division on the Right Side)
http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/

US Army Wounded Warrior Program (Requires Registration)
http://www.armyfamiliesonline.org/skins/WBLO/home.aspx

MILPER MESSAGE#05-096 02/04/05 (USAR/ARNG MEB Processing Clarification)
http://www.armyg1.army.mil/MilitaryP...Processing.doc

All links for Army PEB Processing
https://www.hrc.army.mil/indexflash.asp
Step 1- Click on HRC Alexandria
Step 2- Scroll to bottom and click on Physical Disability Eval System
Step 3- Click on "FOIA, Regulations, Policy" 6th Link from Upper Left Side Going Down

Louisville Law-ARMY PHYSICAL DISABILITY SEPARATION(22 May 04)

http://louisvillelaw.com/federal/phy...bility_sep.htm

http://louisvillelaw.com/federal/phy...lity_sep_1.htm

http://louisvillelaw.com/federal/phy...lity_sep_2.htm

PEBLO Counseling Guide(Know what they know)
http://www.west-point.org/users/usma...pebloguide.doc

MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER (The MEB Process and You)
http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1991/48648/

Disability Separation
http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p360_506.pdf

20 DAYS PERMISSIVE TDY AFTER MED PROCESSING
PARA 5-35 AND 5-36
https://aepubs.army.mil/pdfpubs/r600_8_10.pdf

http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/ChronDataBreaches.htm
http://www.emergentchaos.com/archives/cat_breaches.html
http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...5345_tc120.htm
http://attrition.org/errata/related.html
http://tinyurl.com/afkbj
http://tinyurl.com/lhn5c
http://www.theregister.co.ukcharges/
http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/191

[Guarango]

Hi TCM
Re. TRose10000' s question. Would it not bebtter for him to strtch it out until he has at least 15 years in for CRSC purposes due to the 2008 DAC? Also, the USAF hasn't implemented the new legislation ref. chapter 61's for CRSC asof yet. I questioned this and they said that they are waiting for instructions but did not say from whom. I wonder what's keeping them?
Best regards
Frank

[TinCanMan]

Would it not bebtter for him to strtch it out until he has at least 15 years in for CRSC purposes due to the 2008 DAC?

Absolutely, thanx, I didn't think of that angle.

I wonder what's keeping them?

Would you believe it's the law? I don't know why the folks you contacted didn't know but CRSC for Chapt 61 folks doesn't take effect till Oct 2008.