100% P/T through VA Since 2018, now being medboaded. IDES/LDES

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CavScouttoHR

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I am currently rated 100% P/T through the VA due to my prior active duty time. I am currently in the National Guard and have over 13 years time in service. Recently I was diagnosed with a heart condition that the Military deems me unfit and recommended me for a med board. The condition is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and was found out when I kept almost passing and blacking out during workouts.

My question is, is there ANY reason I should go IDES, or is LDES the way to go? I know you are opening Pandora's box when they poke at your claims again, so I would rather not do that.

I have left messages with the Army SMEBC's and have not received any calls back for advice yet.

Also are they going to just pat me on the back and say thank you for your service or could this turn into being "retired".
 
CavScouttoHR said:
I am currently rated 100% P/T through the VA due to my prior active duty time. I am currently in the National Guard and have over 13 years time in service. Recently I was diagnosed with a heart condition that the Military deems me unfit and recommended me for a med board. The condition is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and was found out when I kept almost passing and blacking out during workouts.

My question is, is there ANY reason I should go IDES, or is LDES the way to go? I know you are opening Pandora's box when they poke at your claims again, so I would rather not do that.

I have left messages with the Army SMEBC's and have not received any calls back for advice yet.

Also are they going to just pat me on the back and say thank you for your service or could this turn into being "retired".
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Will this be a non duty related MEB? If so, you have a lot to lose since you aren't at 15 good years. If you get kicked out with less than good 15 years you get nothing for your service. Only VA compensation. If you have LOD then you can retire immediately but still have a lot to lose because less than 30% and you get severance check. Since you are 100% P&T VA a medical retirement isn't going to net you anymore than you get currently from VA disability unless you qualify for CRSC. I would choose IDES and try to delay medical exams to get to 15 years so if kicked out you can get 15 year letter and apply for non regular retirement at age 60 or slightly less if reduced by qualifying deployments. My wife was able to delay the process by 6 months and hit 20 good years for a 20 year letter by asking to see only female doctors for medical exams. The goal is to get Tricare insurance and qualify for CRSC by having qualified for a non regular retirement.
 
I'm curious also on the VA situation, do they make you get evaluated again? Especially if you are already rated for the same conditions you are deemed unfit for in the service?
 
tjlazer said:
I'm curious also on the VA situation, do they make you get evaluated again? Especially if you are already rated for the same conditions you are deemed unfit for in the service?
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The answer is yes if duty related while Guard/Reserves. Yes for active duty. You don't have to if you choose LDES which is the old system. If the OP was not trying to delay he could choose not to do IDES since not duty related. When its duty related or on active duty it isn't wise to choose LDES as there a much less protections for LDES. That is why IDES was created. The PEB MUST follow the VA ratings for an unfitting condition in IDES. That's not the case for LDES. There are more checks and balances in IDES.
 
They are saying it's not duty related. Though I argue it is because it happened on a drill weekend, but I did not seek medical care until a few months later when the condition did not improve. Since I have over 20 years I expect to just get a normal retirement. Which I am fine with. Trying to get clarification on what comes next...
 
tjlazer said:
They are saying it's not duty related. Though I argue it is because it happened on a drill weekend, but I did not seek medical care until a few months later when the condition did not improve. Since I have over 20 years I expect to just get a normal retirement. Which I am fine with. Trying to get clarification on what comes next...
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Just apply to be moved into the retired reserve. You have a 20 year letter so you will get a retirement at qualifying age but you need to apply 6-12 months before that time.

What I would be concerned about is getting separated instead of being moved to the retired reserve. If that happens your retirement pay will be based off of pay charts in the year you are discharged instead of being based on the pay charts for the year you are eligible for your non regular retirement. Go look at the base pay 20 years ago and you can see the HUGE difference! I am not sure how that works when non duty related but just make sure you end up in the retired reserve and not separated!!!
 
Provis said:
Will this be a non duty related MEB? If so, you have a lot to lose since you aren't at 15 good years. If you get kicked out with less than good 15 years you get nothing for your service. Only VA compensation. If you have LOD then you can retire immediately but still have a lot to lose because less than 30% and you get severance check. Since you are 100% P&T VA a medical retirement isn't going to net you anymore than you get currently from VA disability unless you qualify for CRSC. I would choose IDES and try to delay medical exams to get to 15 years so if kicked out you can get 15 year letter and apply for non regular retirement at age 60 or slightly less if reduced by qualifying deployments. My wife was able to delay the process by 6 months and hit 20 good years for a 20 year letter by asking to see only female doctors for medical exams. The goal is to get Tricare insurance and qualify for CRSC by having qualified for a non regular retirement.
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I have a question. I have been in the Air National Guard for 30 years. I have a 100% PTSD rating from the VA. I am going through an IPEB now and should have the results in the next two weeks. It was suggested i go the LDES route since i had my VA rating and the LDES would speed up the process for me to retire at the end of Aug 2022. Now i am wondering if that was the correct route? Also i have been told that if i get a % from the military that i would use my base pay as a 30 Yr E-8 to get my retirement amount. I am a little naïve when it comes to the IPEB/MEB process, so I wanted to see what you all had to say.

thanks
 
Kager1 said:
I have a question. I have been in the Air National Guard for 30 years. I have a 100% PTSD rating from the VA. I am going through an IPEB now and should have the results in the next two weeks. It was suggested i go the LDES route since i had my VA rating and the LDES would speed up the process for me to retire at the end of Aug 2022. Now i am wondering if that was the correct route? Also i have been told that if i get a % from the military that i would use my base pay as a 30 Yr E-8 to get my retirement amount. I am a little naïve when it comes to the IPEB/MEB process, so I wanted to see what you all had to say.

thanks
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There isn't enough information to give you advice. There are scenarios where LDES isn't a bad option but they are rare. Is this IPEB duty related resulting in an immediate retirement? How close are you to receiving your non regular retirement?
 
I can retire at anytime after Aug 12th as i am a full time Civil Service at my unit. It is duty related.
 
Kager1 said:
I can retire at anytime after Aug 12th as i am a full time Civil Service at my unit. It is duty related.
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Is the condition combat related that they are evaluating you for IDES?
 
Kager1 said:
I have a question. I have been in the Air National Guard for 30 years. I have a 100% PTSD rating from the VA. I am going through an IPEB now and should have the results in the next two weeks. It was suggested i go the LDES route since i had my VA rating and the LDES would speed up the process for me to retire at the end of Aug 2022. Now i am wondering if that was the correct route? Also i have been told that if i get a % from the military that i would use my base pay as a 30 Yr E-8 to get my retirement amount. I am a little naïve when it comes to the IPEB/MEB process, so I wanted to see what you all had to say.

thanks
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The concern some have in this scenario is do you want the VA to re-examine your 100% rating and possibly reduce it. It might be better to just retire if you have over 20 years.
 
I think the thing with him is he could do a normal retirement and receive on just points based since he is a guardsman, or go for a disability retirement and receive 75% of his base pay since he is 100 % with the VA and it is a non fitting condition with the ANG. 75% of base is a lot better than 25% of base.
 
from my understanding also, If you go LDES then the DoD is not held to the VA percentage of disability and they can come up with whatever amount they want but if you go IDES, then they are bound by law to use the VA rating scale for all unfit conditions. If they want you to go get reevaluated from the VA for your IDES, then it shouldn't be an issue if your condition is stable and legit. If the VA lowers your past rating then you can appeal the denial of your claim or a low rating by filing a Notice of Disagreement (Form 21-0958) with your regional VA office. The notice is a written declaration informing the VA that you disagree with their decision. Submitting this form will open an appeal to your compensation decision with the VA
 
I don't want to be re-evaluated by the VA, becuase you never know what could happen a second time around. That was my main reason for going LDES. I was told it would be safer and I could still get a good percentage from the mitary.
 
I guess that would be the wiser decision since you could use the "FREE" representation from the Office of Disability Counsel to argue the case if the DoD gave you a percentage that was obviously under rated.
 
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