I am a 20 year reservist (6 years AD) that recently received 100% P&T rating by the VA. If I go through a med board process for the reserves, can that open up a reevaluation for all my rated VA disabilities? I know DoD uses the VA C&P examiners for med boards, but can that impact your current ratings?
MEB & Current VA Disability Rating
- Thread starter jwright
- Start date
It could but then again its a slim chance unless a condition has improved. If the condition is the same you can bring in your last C&P and state nothing has changed.
Hey jwright, I'm a 20 year reservist with 8 years AD (100% P&T) that just went through new C&P exams for my rating, and like Provis said there is very little chance your rating will change unless you've significantly improved.
You will have new C&P exams, and while they can potentially lead to a lower rating, there is a very strong possibility they will simply re-confirm your ratings.
Note that IDES (I'm assuming that's what you're going through) will put a lot of weight in the VA's opinion when determining if you're medically fit or not.
Just make sure you stay on top of your treatment, and everything's gonna be fine.
Again, I was also P&T, also put in IDES and also had the same concerns; new ratings came back, still P&T.
The VA didn't give you P&T for nothing, so just be honest in your exams and you'll be fine.
Best of luck
I'm going through the exact same thing, I have already been rated at 100% P&T (VA), still in Reserves after a heart attack, PTSD, ADHD, OCD, MST, etc w/ a potential MEB/IDES coming. Will I have to go through the VA system for an MEB Eval board? I detest the VA evals, I do not trust them, I left the VA (In Pain) worse than I went in on several C&P exams. Please educate me on this...
I am sorry to hear the VA C&P examiners left you in more pain than when you went in during your last C&P exams. Have you filed a complaint with the IG for VA or the Patient Advocate at your local VA? Examiners hurting Veterans during exams should face repurcussions.
There's 2 ways to go through a MEB, IDES and LDES.
A potential MEB through IDES would open you up to new ratings (potentially a ratings reduction) with LDES it wouldn't.
However, you currently need a reason to go through LDES, and being worried about a ratings reduction is not considered a satisfactory reason to DOD.
Yes, your ratings can potentially get reduced during IDES; I've also yet to hear of that happening to anyone (not to say it hasn't, I'm sure it does. I just haven't heard of a case yet.)
From reading your list of conditions potentially disqualifying you from further service, if someone is continuously getting treatment for those conditions I'd be very suprised to hear that got reduced from 100% P&T.
The plus side of IDES is whatever the QTC examiner rates you as, you will effectively get that rating for DOD as well (QTC finds you 100%, so will DOD; however max pay from DOD is 75% base pay unless you're eligible for a higher percentage due to years of service.)
a 100% DOD rating will get you placed on either the TDRL or PDRL (much more likely the PDRL, so long as DOD rates your disqualifying conditions as stable.)
Disability retirement also opens you up to benefits such as the option of enrolling in Tricare Prime, among others.
If any of your disqualifying conditions are found to be as a result of Combat, or Combat Related activities, you may also be eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation to offset some of the DOD pay when and if you accept your VA pay over DOD pay.
I know that was pretty wordy, but I wanted to make sure I covered all bases, and maybe reassured you a bit about the process; it's not as scary as it seems, and so long as your conditions still require regular medical treatment you should be fine, and your VA rating likely won't see any changes. The VA didn't give you P&T for nothing.
Again, if an examiner physically caused you harm in the past, you should take it up with the IG of the VA, Patient Advocate, or with the Private Company that conducted the exam.
I'd consider getting your Senator involved as well, that's a very serious situation.
I welcome any corrections to this information if I wrote something that wasn't altogether accurate.
Hope that answers your questions, best of luck to you.