@NuJerzeyKidd
YES anticipation is so hard but have faith and trust the process as you have served almost 12 years which itself is a commendable achievement.
You will see finalized VA Ratings with claims and VA Benefits letters in VA site at the end of next month from your new ETS date from orders only. For example if your New ETS is going to be September 28th then you will see your VA related things in VA site by October 20th to 30th. DOD final payment will be done by the end of October and VA payment for October will be done in November. So just make sure your DS Logon, Id.me, Login.gov all accounts are active.
My process in Fort Hood took exactly 5 months from start to end. I was worried at first as there is no site or tracking system for the MEB/PEB process but having patience is the key as God always process us for something in life and everything happens for a reason. It is just like taking things one at a time and have faith in fate. Let Empathy win the Apathy. Stay focused and prepare yourself for next phase of your life.
***Once your rating will back you will have 2 options: Concurring it or Submitting appeal. Your assigned lawyer will help if you do not agree with the ratings, which will delay or process unitl decisions for your appeal is made. Mostly it takes from 4 to 6 months after appeal; so be ready for that aswell, if you find yourself in appealing scenario.
And in the scenario of you concurring everything from VA and DoD, then your PEBLO will inform you about SFAC and few other things. You will be assigned to SFAC in next step, then SFAC counselor will be the one who will issue your Transproc for NLT date and Orders. You do not have to be at the Copeland Transition Depart for Order issuance, Clearance forms and DD214, all will be done at SFAC building near by the People First Building.
Just for the heads up, Process is long and tiring but worthy for experience, so just have patience and make sure your entire Health records, Army Records, Dependents records are upto date and frequently do check your iPerms, STP(prior ERB) and PPW aswell in IPPSA and make sure to download your records and latest documents from Medpros before you return your CAC to DEERS at the end of the ETS date as since you will be Medboarded you and your dependent will be given another form of ID in that DEERS appt.
Once you reach SFAC stage and when you receive your Order from SFAC, your SFAC counselor will tell you which places to clear in Installation with other important informations. VA Rep will also contact you to whom you have to email your Order and for PEBLO you have to forward your Order and DD214. You will receive 2 types DD214(DD214-mem 4 is for rest and Mem1 is for yourself only.)
>>>SFAC gave me DA-137-2 and I downloaded DA137-1 and typed the Order info from DA137-2 provided by SFAC.
###DA 137-1---Unit Clearance form, we can download from Army Pub, as most of the time its not in Orderly room or BN S1 desk.
###DA 137-2---Post Clearance form with the instructions and rest instructions will be given by SFAC.>>>
And after everything will be done like; MEB conclusion, VA and DOD ratings, SFAC, Clearance, your leave---TAA(upto 28days) and TA(remaining leave days after you sale your leave days), you will be signing your DD214 and get Certificate of Discharge in SFAC building, you will feel relieved for while then again another wait game begins for final payment and VA's first check, so prepare yourself for that and stay positive.
BUT when you get out by that time also VA site will show - waiting for decisions and eventually it will be done with the same ratings which one has concurred with, in MEB process; by the end of a month before you start to get your VA check(mentioned above); as that is the VA's process of doing things. So for the reference if you see that in VA site, after you are done with entire process, then also do not worry as it will change within timeframe mentioned above in example for Dates and Payment.
■If you get 30% or more from DOD site then you will be Medically Retired and you and your dependents will receive DOD related ID for Installation entry.
■And when its below 30% then will be Medically Separated and will get VHIC from VA for Installation entry if you will get enrolled in VA Health Care system depending on their criteria and % of Disability and will receive DOD Severance pay and your final payment from DFAS, which will be done by the end of the next month from your new ETS in your Order issued by SFAC as I mentioned above. And VA payment will be seen in VA site.
Hope your process will come to conclusion soon. Stay firm. All the best.
*** This is from Fort Cavazos/Hood and my personal experiences only, and I don't know about process done for other in different installations, as it might defer according to their rules & regulation of handling things.***
