Depression

B

Brad

PEB Forum Regular Member
I am being offered a TDRL due to depression. I have 15 years of AD time in and want to make retirement. Does anyone have any experience in what the final results are in the TDRL process with depression? I want to make sure that I get a retirement rather than a severence. So my question is should I fight the TDRL now or after the 15 month period?
Thanks
Brad
 
Bird in the hand is worth more than two in a bush.


I think I would go with the TDRL (at least you are secure a paycheck (though 50%) for the next 1.5 years). Other options (decisions) might not be something you want and can take effect in months.

 
Xeno is correct. Secondly, you should start the VA process regardless of your decision.

fdm
 
Getting a rating from the military for depression to go permanent from originally being a temporary TDRL rating is hard from my experience. They put you thru hell and high water. If you work they will hold that against you and look to diminish if not eliminate and rule you out by awarding severance pay instead of a 30% or above rating resulting in retirement when they re-evaluate you. Doctors you see on the outside including psychiatrists do not understand the military disability system and will judge you as if you are trying to get over on the system or so called exagerate your symptoms. I can say all of this because I have faced the same scrutiny. While you are in your depression closely observed in a work atmosphere. On the outside it is not as closely observed. If they make you temporary I would try to get a lawyer like Jason Perry or someone else but personally I am going to go with Jason when my 2nd re-eval comes up. Just being on this TDRL is stressful. It seems even the people at the VA Vet Centers don't understand the military disability system. Few understand it. You will have to get a good lawyer and also learn as much as you can about this system. Read the military regulations in regards to disability MEB, PEB and IPEB boards in addition to learning the VA disability system. If you do take the TDRL apply for social security as soon as possible. If you are a combat vet, i.e. went to Iraq or Afghanistan then you can apply for social security and have your claim expedited. This is a new policy that came about last year. I myself am very frustrated. I have tried to get the Vet Center where I go for group therapy to write me a letter as to how I am doing and they don't want to write stuff like that saying they don't get involved in such matters with DOD. So in all just know from my experience it seems to be a battle you fight long and hard once you accept the TDRL. In my case with me getting social security and 100% from the VA the military said I wasn't stable and came back with a increase from my initial 30% to 50% now and wants me to go thru another TDRL. Keep in mind when you move you get new Doctors. Depression along with other mental conditions are a subjective finding on a Doctor and heavily opinionated so a new Doctor in the area where you move to may have a different opinion of your condition. In my opinion TDRL is not good especially if you have depression. Wondering what the final outcome will be will wear on you. Oh yeah if you work full-time or go to school full-time they will try to use that as a basis and will normally win and result in you getting a severance. I am not gaming the system. I have depression and PTSD myself and they make me tired all the time. Then the meds they give me make me even more sluggish. You have 15 years and not a lot to lose. I wouldn't take the TDRL. I would get a lawyer and see if you cn fight for PDRL. I wish you good luck brother. My experience with this whole TDRL system has been that it is a hassle. Please let me know what you decide to do and keep us all informed of how it goes. I will pray for you.
 
these guys brought up some valid points.

i'm going through the MEB process and right now my diagnosis is severe depression and anxiety w/charicteristics of PTSD. i've been going to the VA and the vets center since OCT 2008 and i think they now have a good "plan" for my mental health issues. it's taken a while. i was initially going to mental health @ a navy base and it sucked. they kept changing my diagnosis. first PTSD, then depression/anxiety and agaoraphobia, back to PTSD. now i just continue to go to my VA's PTSD clinic once a month and i go to the Vet's Center every 2 weeks.

deffinately start addressing the VA claims process and getting care there. the big thing is to create a solid paper-trail w/the VA. after that everything will eventually fall into place. i've been getting great care through the VA. the Vet's Center is a phenominal Tool/great Resource. if you have one, take advantage of it. just don't give up and keep fighting.

Social Security is another key thing. they are expiditing the initial applications. mine got done FAST. i was denyed, so right now i'm on an appeal, my application is pending and it has taken almost a year, since i was denyed. so i would deffinately suggest to anyone to apply ASAP. just like w/the VA, don't give up.
 
Keep in mind that with 15 years of active duty you will receive retirement no matter what happens. You accrue 2.5% towards retirement for every year of active duty. That is where the 50% for someone that does 20 years and retires comes from, 20 years AD X 2.5% = 50% retirement. With 15 years you have accrued 37.5% towards retirement. You can not receive a final percentage lower than that (which would be rounded to 40% if I am not mistaken) I would say that with 15 years even if you are put on TDRL, you will be okay.
Think of the TDRL as a good thing. If you are retired drawing your 50% TDRL and your depression worsens, you can be upgraded as well.
50% is the minimum you will receive while on TDRL, if your PEB comes back as something higher, you will receive that amount.
hope this helps!
 
kingkevindavid,

Most of what you said (about calculating percentages) is accurate. The only thing that I need to point out is that 15 years does not guarantee retirement. I hear people saying this or having been told this and I think the confusion may be from two potential sources. The first could be the former Temporary Early Retirement Authority program that expired in the 1990's. This program authorized retirement at 15 years. The other is the retirement authorization for reservists who have non-duty related medical condition that is unfitting and they have 15 years.

Remember, you need 20 years of service to get the alternate calculation of 2.5% times years of service (you get which ever is better, the LOS calculation or the actual disability award).

TDRL can be a boon for some members. If rated at 30-40%, you are paid more at the minimum level. Also, if your condition worsens, you may be ultimately rated higher than you would if put on PDRL. Still, I definitely understand the issues for some members with the stress or uncertainty with TDRL. There is a value to having a final decision. What everyone should remember is that the issue with getting off of TDRL is a matter of stability of your conditions.
 
How Do you show stability for

As always Jason is on point. The next question is how do you show stability for PTSD and Depression so that you can get off of this TDR (Hell) aka TDRL? Also my evaluator on base mentioned that I might be a good candidate for the inpatient program. If I don't go to that program or say another provider recommends the program to me and I decide not to go can this be used against me when a final decision is being made with my TDRL? Presently I am not going to school or working. I have tried to go to school with no success. Working is not an option right now for me.
 
Jason,
Thanks for the additional information.
Do you happen to know off hand what regulation covers how the percentages are calculated? I only ask because I was told by numerous sources here (where I am stationed, not the forum) that I would receive no lower than 40% because I have 16 years of active duty service.
hypothetical example: My IPEB comes back unfitting with a 20% rating, PDRL. I would still receive a retirement at 40% because of the 16 years of service. They cannot give you less than you have already earned and even though the rating came back 20% It is unfitting and I would receive a retirement at 40%.

I only ask this for the benefit of others, I know I will receive well over 50% but figured others may be closer to the lower percentages and the info would be helpful.
 
Also I am 100% from the VA and while waiting from my PEB rating I was diagnosed with Vestibular Hypofunction with vertigo getting treated for it, diagnosed with TBI by the VA(army said i dont have it, but VA tested me they said I do), Major Deppressive Disorder. With all those condition diagnose, these are not included on my original VA rating. But with 100% rating I am not after any money, I am maxed out, do you think
I should still file these claim after my separation date(July 2009)? I would like to know your thoughts!I would greatly appreciate your response.GOD bless you always!

Warrior.OIF

<LI class=floatcontainer id=vmessage655>Thank you so much for all your help with fellow veterans and soldiers. I just got my Tdrl rating this week and i have 80% peb and 100% VA. My question is i already have a date on my Reeval, specifically for PTSD 50%. I am clearing next week for my Tdrl, I also have a fed job lined up! Would it affect my reeval if I work f/time, I need to find a job because I have a family with 3 kids. Would they use that against me and would lower my rating for the VA and My PEB. what are your thoughts? I was skeptical to take the Job @ first because they might lower my rating. But i talked to a DAV VSO and AW2 rep, they said go to work, and it will not affect my rating @ all. But from what I have read in the forum, there is a good chance.
I would greatly appreciate your response.. GOD bless!
 
How does one find out thier VA rating before the seperation date has been assigned? I recieved a call from the VA rep yesterday and they can't send mine to be rated until a date has been assigned.
 
Texan1003 said:
How does one find out thier VA rating before the seperation date has been assigned? I recieved a call from the VA rep yesterday and they can't send mine to be rated until a date has been assigned.
Click to expand...

You are reading my mind Texan, I have been told that I will be able to at least get a head start on mine ( I can start mine once my packet is sent off to the IPEB) I have been told that I in order to do my claim here, I must stay in the area for 60 days after retirement.
I would love to have an approved VA claim before retirement! Someone please share the secret!
 
This is how it went with me. When my package went to IPEB I was told I could start a claim. Did this through the DAV. He was great and they set everything up with the VA. Went through an evaluation for everything that we listed as a claim. From what I;m told now it stays local and just sits until I get a date of seperation. Then the date goes on and is sent to the VA regional office for a rating and to get the benifits started. At the regional office I was told it sits there waiting to finalize and start benefits until they recieve my 214. At that point it could take up to 60 days to start seeing any payment. It does seem like it speeds the process up but I was wondering how so many already know their VA rating before the IPEB come back? Were they sent notices by mistake, or are they NG/R and that is the reason? Just confuses me a bit.:confused:
 
Texan, My VA claim took 4 months to be processed (Submitted in Oct 2007 and money paid in March) and for me to this was suppossedly "expedited" because I was an OEF/OIF vet. I was told by my service officer that if I were not an OEF/OIF vet that this could have taken up to a year typically.
 
Thanks Texan, That is the same way I understand it to work. I had a briefing from the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and they told me the same thing that Eric said about getting expedited because we are OEF / OIF Vets. By the WWP briefing it is supposed to be 45 days (VA standard for OEF / OIF Vets) He said for the most part it is happening but the VA is not doing complete claims and you will still have to work at getting the rest of your claim. They are just getting the quick stuff in to meet the VA standard 45 Days.
I am still curious how some guys on here haven't even started their board but they already have a VA rating.
 
Most are likely reservists who were injured while mobilized. After their mobilization, they have a DD214, they return to reserve/National Guard status, are rated by VA, and later found to fail retention standards by their reserve unit.
 
Ahhhhh... that makes sense now Jason. I appreciate the update and the info.
 
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