Question About Reevaluation While on TDRL – Will I Be Placed on PDRL?

[unknown_user]

Hey everyone,

I was placed on TDRL with the following ratings on my AF Form 356 last September for:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): 70% DoD (Not marked as Permanent & Stable)
• Chronic Knee Pain: 30% DoD (Marked as Permanent & Stable)
• Total DoD Rating: 80%

My reevaluation is scheduled for September 2025, and Box 9 of my AF 356 states "Clinics for TDRL evaluation: Psychiatry", meaning only my MDD will be reevaluated.

My question is: If my MDD rating drops below 30% during reevaluation, will I still be placed on PDRL since my chronic knee pain is rated at 30% and marked as Permanent & Stable?

From my understanding, do they consider the total DoD rating, or just the condition being reevaluated?
Since my chronic knee pain is already at 30% and permanent and stable, I believe I would still qualify for PDRL even if my MDD rating gets lowered.


Can anyone confirm this with an official reference or personal experience? I want to make sure I fully understand the process before my reevaluation.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Provis]

Hey everyone,

I was placed on TDRL with the following ratings on my AF Form 356 last September for:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): 70% DoD (Not marked as Permanent & Stable)
• Chronic Knee Pain: 30% DoD (Marked as Permanent & Stable)
• Total DoD Rating: 80%

My reevaluation is scheduled for September 2025, and Box 9 of my AF 356 states "Clinics for TDRL evaluation: Psychiatry", meaning only my MDD will be reevaluated.

My question is: If my MDD rating drops below 30% during reevaluation, will I still be placed on PDRL since my chronic knee pain is rated at 30% and marked as Permanent & Stable?

From my understanding, do they consider the total DoD rating, or just the condition being reevaluated?
Since my chronic knee pain is already at 30% and permanent and stable, I believe I would still qualify for PDRL even if my MDD rating gets lowered.


Can anyone confirm this with an official reference or personal experience? I want to make sure I fully understand the process before my reevaluation.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Since you have 1 unfitting condition rated 30% PDRL you will remain medically retired regardless of the outcome for your MDD. I would however, continue to seek treatment and if possible with the VA and try not to make any changes until it becomes PDRL. Going to school, getting a job etc is going to probably drop your rating from 70%. So I would try to lay low and seek treatment to get it changed to 70% PDRL asap. Remember a chapter 61 retirement is your floor. You want it maxed out at 75% pay because that money will be guaranteed to you for the rest of your life regardless of what the VA rates you. Think about how comforting it would be to not need to worry about the VA rating and compensation because your chapter 61 pension is high and guaranteed?

 

[unknown_user]

Since you have 1 unfitting condition rated 30% PDRL you will remain medically retired regardless of the outcome for your MDD. I would however, continue to seek treatment and if possible with the VA and try not to make any changes until it becomes PDRL. Going to school, getting a job etc is going to probably drop your rating from 70%. So I would try to lay low and seek treatment to get it changed to 70% PDRL asap. Remember a chapter 61 retirement is your floor. You want it maxed out at 75% pay because that money will be guaranteed to you for the rest of your life regardless of what the VA rates you. Think about how comforting it would be to not need to worry about the VA rating and compensation because your chapter 61 pension is high and guaranteed?

Roger that, I'm in contact with my TDRL care team during the wait time until September when I get my first evaluation. He said that I am able to get a job since I have my "veteran status".

He text me and said:
"So I ran your question regarding employment by my team lead. I just wanted to share some insight with you.
TDRL cannot dictate your employment life, you’re on veteran status. TDRL is also not going asses whether your job can be performed or not based on your condition. TDRL is only looking at the status of your condition. They may ask how your condition impacts your day to day, including your work day.
If this question occurs, I personally would state that you continue to have struggles, but you’re managing based on your mental health treatment plan and medications (if applicable). I would not word your situation in a manner that would suggest your new employment in law enforcement has improved your condition, because then they could choose to lower your AF rating. But overall, you potentially being employed in law enforcement should not dictate the outcome of your TDRL."

Im still trying to look into it more and doing more research just for my sake, but I cant stand not working for over a year, I feel like I'm getting more depressed from just sitting all day and not being as active as I used to be. I really would like to move out of state at least and finding a temporary job other than LE in the city that I wanna work in until I get on PDRL, that way I can at least not worry about the move across the country and already be settled down and know the area that I live and I can decide during that time if I wanna live in the other state I plan on moving to.
Thanks so much again for always answering my questions. If anyone has any advice on what my TDRL care team told me I would appreciate it!