The more I read, the less I know

I have spent the better part of 2 days reading just about every post in this forum. The information is wonderful but I am even more confused now that I was at the start!

I am an E-7 SFC and just hit 18 years active-duty this month (June). I have 6 combat tours and was diagnosed with PTSD with a 11113 MRC3B on my PULHES. I was told I will be starting the MEB (I think) process and was contacted to schedule an inteview of some type.

I am not in a traditional Army unit; I am assigned to an Intelligence Agency here in DC by Fort Belvoir. Not sure how that plays into all of this. I am on orders to PCS but was told I would be deleted if I submit a deletion request to my branch (35G).

My questions are:

What happens if my board decides to medically reitre me at say 19.5 years? The least I will get is 50% for PTSD and I would think 15 years of airborne status would boost that number?

How long ahead of time will I have to find a job? My agency needs about 6 months lead time for employment.

What is a reasonable amount to expect if I am in fact retired at 50% for PTSD? I know this number varies wildley but a ball park would go a long way into planing for post-military living. DC is pretty pricey.

If anyone has some solid advice (since I am just starting) I would greatly appreciate it. For those that wish they could have a do over, what are some things I should watch for and pursue?
 
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1.) What happens if my board decides to medically reitre me at say 19.5 years? Either request a permanent profile to reach 20 or appeal in hopes you can push past the 20 year mark. With 6 combat tours I assume you will be entitled to CRSC, so even if you can't reach the full 20, you may end up receiving the same concurrent receipt benefits without reaching 20. If you are on the REDUX plan, a medical retirement negates that.
2.) The least I will get is 50% for PTSD and I would think 15 years of airborne status would boost that number? You have to prove the PTSD is unfitting (prevent you from doing your job) and any other conditions. The 50% for PTSD is the minimum the PEB can assign if it's an unfitting condition. PTSD can result in placement on TDRL or PDRL. The VA will assign ratings for any and all conditions, but the PEB will only award you those %'s for the unfitting conditions. This is why people have a DoD rating and a VA rating which often differ.
3.) How long ahead of time will I have to find a job? My agency needs about 6 months lead time for employment. Depending on if you have to appeal or not will determine the length of time it takes. Typically after you accept your findings expect 60-90 days, which includes terminal leave, etc.
4.) What is a reasonable amount to expect if I am in fact retired at 50% for PTSD? The DES process seems to be a slinky at the moment. Some people have results within 3 months, while others are waiting a year or more.
5.) For those that wish they could have a do over, what are some things I should watch for and pursue? Have an attorney help you build your case now, during the MEB/NARSUM, rather than wait until IPEB results come in. A good lawyer can guide you and help you achieve your goal easier by getting involved sooner. They can also speed it up or slow it down depending on the needs of the member.
 
you must also consider the worst case scenario- what happens it you are rated 20% or below and seperated! maybe someone can chime in. This is not my area.

when did you get diagnosed with PTSD?? MEDCOM policy memo 11-046 discusses time to meet your optimal medical benefit before you are boarded. The best case is for you to delay until you have your 20yrs.
 
PTSD is 50% and TDRL unless you have more than 80% of other stable stuff if I remember what Jason stated correctly. If combat related there is a calculator to figure out the % you would be entitled to but I don't know a lot about that except a lot of people complain that it is low. TDRL will be reevaluated and could go down (probably will) or could increase, I don't like the odds and wouldn't gamble. Your best outcome would be to make it to 20 years any way you can. take the transfer, drag your feet and appeal at every corner. Ask for more tests and get everything in your records.
 
I've have worked a number of cases where someone is placed on the TDRL with over 19 years of active duty, and then is discharged with severance pay. It is truely a bad situation. I agree with everyone that you should do whatever you can to get your 20. Request COAD (Continuation of Active Duty) at your MEB if you are determined medically disqualified. If nothing else it sets the stage for an appeal to the ABCMR if worse comes to worse.
 
I think this is the information I have been looking for. My 20 year anniversary is 25 Aug 2014. I was told by my PEBLO I was to be placed on TDRL in June (no specific date). I have not spoken to anyone at the Transition Office yet about separation orders. I currently (end of March 2014 LES) have 70 days leave saved. By end of June that should be 77.5.
If I am interpreting things correctly, my terminal leave would begin when separated in June, which may extend me past the 20 year mark. The following appears to be what I am in store for:
· Army rating 80% combat-related; VA 90%.
· Appeals completed
· CoAD denied
· Final out for TDRL 6 June (IDES Dashboard estimates separation on 6 June 2014).
· Begin Transition Leave 7 June (at least 77 days) through 22 Aug.
· 10 days PTDY 23 Aug – 1 Sept.
· TDRL Re-examination sometime in September 2014.
I guess my real question is does my Active Federal Service time stop on 7 June, or 1 Sept in the above scenario? I would assume time stops on 1 Sept, which means I make it to 20 years by the skin of my teeth.
 
I went to my personnel office to ask about transition leave. The NCOIC said something to the effect, you continue to earn leave days while on transition leave, so the request will include those days as well. Additionally, PTDY is calculated Monday through Friday and does not count weekends or holidays. With all that in mind, it looks like I will get over the 20 year hump, provided I am not required to have all this completed prior to June 6. So, the scenario may look more like:
  • Army rating 80% combat-related; VA 90%.
  • Appeals completed
  • CoAD denied
  • Final out 6 June (IDES Dashboard estimates separation on 6 June 2014).
  • 10 days PTDY 9-13 June & 16-20 June 2014.
  • Begin Transition Leave 21 June (about 80 days) through 8 Sept.'ish.
  • TDRL Re-examination sometime in September 2014.
If I am supposed to have PTDY and Transition Leave completed by 6 June, then there is no way I can reach 20 years on 25 Aug. Does this sound right?
 
I didn't think they gave a soldier being retired for physical unfitness terminal leave. They just pay the soldier for any accrued leave. Anyone with first-hand experience like to chime in??
 
Grov3rGil said:
I think this is the information I have been looking for. My 20 year anniversary is 25 Aug 2014. I was told by my PEBLO I was to be placed on TDRL in June (no specific date). I have not spoken to anyone at the Transition Office yet about separation orders. I currently (end of March 2014 LES) have 70 days leave saved. By end of June that should be 77.5.
If I am interpreting things correctly, my terminal leave would begin when separated in June, which may extend me past the 20 year mark. The following appears to be what I am in store for:
· Army rating 80% combat-related; VA 90%.
· Appeals completed
· CoAD denied
· Final out for TDRL 6 June (IDES Dashboard estimates separation on 6 June 2014).
· Begin Transition Leave 7 June (at least 77 days) through 22 Aug.
· 10 days PTDY 23 Aug – 1 Sept.
· TDRL Re-examination sometime in September 2014.
I guess my real question is does my Active Federal Service time stop on 7 June, or 1 Sept in the above scenario? I would assume time stops on 1 Sept, which means I make it to 20 years by the skin of my teeth.
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Welcome to the PEB Forum! :)

Based upon your above scenario, unfortunately, there exist some fundamental errors with the calculations in my opinion.

First, placement onto the TDRL means that your last day on active duty within the U.S. Army would be 5 June 2014.

To that extent, all post clearance activities (e.g., 10 days), PTDY (e.g., 20 days if granted), and transition leave (e.g., 60 days) for a total of up to 90 calendar days maximum will have to be completed prior to 5 June 2014. Then, placement onto the military TDRL shall start on 6 June 2014.

So, for example, lets say that 30 June 2014 is the first day for placement onto the military TDRL. Then, that would mean that 29 June 2014 would be your last day on active duty within the U.S. Army and 14 April 2014 would be the start of your military transition leave.

As such from my above scenario, it seems that your final-out military appointment would be no later than 11 April 2014 and military TDRL re-examination would be scheduled sometime in October 2014.

With that all said, in order to potentially have a opportunity to reach your 20 years of active duty date of 25 August 2014, not inclusive of other any other potential factors like PTDY (e.g., up to 20 days) and post clearance activities (e.g., up to 10 days), you would need to start your military transition leave on 26 June 2014 and will be forced to sell all remaining military leave days over 60 back to the U.S. government.

Hmm, do you have any remaining contingency operations to potentially evoke while currently still on active duty until at least 26 June 2014 date is fully achieved?

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
@Grov3rGil,

You need to nail down the orders issue. Once on TDRL, you are retired (and would neither accrue additional days of leave or be able to take leave- because you would be retired). As far as your ability to adjust your retirement date, I have seen wide variety of scenarios play out (that is, while there are regulations covering these issues, local implementation seems to vary).
 
Grov3rGil said:
I went to my personnel office to ask about transition leave. The NCOIC said something to the effect, you continue to earn leave days while on transition leave, so the request will include those days as well. Additionally, PTDY is calculated Monday through Friday and does not count weekends or holidays. With all that in mind, it looks like I will get over the 20 year hump, provided I am not required to have all this completed prior to June 6. So, the scenario may look more like:
  • Army rating 80% combat-related; VA 90%.
  • Appeals completed
  • CoAD denied
  • Final out 6 June (IDES Dashboard estimates separation on 6 June 2014).
  • 10 days PTDY 9-13 June & 16-20 June 2014.
  • Begin Transition Leave 21 June (about 80 days) through 8 Sept.'ish.
  • TDRL Re-examination sometime in September 2014.
If I am supposed to have PTDY and Transition Leave completed by 6 June, then there is no way I can reach 20 years on 25 Aug. Does this sound right?
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Hmm, unfortunately, this is not 100% accurate!

To that extent, PTDY for the purposes of military transition is calculated either in one lump sum amount if you are relocating out of state, or in blocks of five days (e.g., Monday thru Friday...start then stop at the same location).

For example, I would have had to take any 20 days of PTDY in one lump sum since it's our intent is to relocate to a new State for military disability retirement.

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer."

Best Wishes!
 
I didn't think they gave a soldier being retired for physical unfitness terminal leave. They just pay the soldier for any accrued leave. Anyone with first-hand experience like to chime in??
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Yest, you do get terminal leave (at least in my experience) but only up to the NLT 90 day mark - left post 6 February, and got 20 days PTDY and then terminal leave until this Thursday - 3 April, my last day in. Bob
 
Alright. Thanks for the information. I think there are still some contingencies left in the bag. I have a lot of faith in the abilities of my attorney. For those of you at Fort Campbell, you took my guy from Fort Gordon (lol). Mr. Carpenter is a good lawyer to have on your side. I am awaiting any further details from him.
 
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