How long do I have after MEB finalized?

2021-10-25T10:58:45-04:00

They just started my MEB last week and told me due to the lack of personnels, most cases are not processing right now until they hire more staffs.
What I’m wondering is after going through all the steps in the MEB, how many days I have left to clear / turn in / and take leave to get out? I want to use the VA loan to buy a home but I’m afraid that at the end of the MEB, I wont have enough time left to use my military income to borrow a VA loan.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2021 11:59 AM

2021-10-25T11:59:30-04:00

You can't and should not use your military income for the basis of your VA loan when you are separating because you will be authorized more money for a loan than you will be capable of paying for once you separate. That is a bad place to be when you don't have cash coming in. Sure, you will most likely get some level of disability from the VA but it may be months before you start receiving any payments

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Oct 25 at 2021 2:34 PM

2021-10-25T14:34:02-04:00

This is really an impossible question to answer...
Once the MEB is completed, your file will go the PEB. At the PEB it will go to an Informal Board. This will then result in an Expedited VA rating. Both the Informal Board and the Expedited VA rating should be fairly fast. HOWEVER, you will then have some period of time (I used to know, but it's been too long. I think either 14 or 21 days) to appeal the Informal. Appealing the Informal will result in a review, based on the results of the review, you will either end up going to a Formal Board or not. If you go to a Formal Board, it will be scheduled as rapidly as possible. I don't know what that would be now that the PEBs have all consolidated, but I would expect within 30 days. Following the Formal Board, I believe there is one more possible appeal, as well ad PDA administrative review. Once that is complete, separation orders will be cut. I would expect those orders to be 30 or 90 days out (again, it's been too long since I worked there to remember the specifics).

As you can see, there is immense variability in the process, based largely on your decisions. In reality, though, there is no reason - absent a unit policy for you NOT to start clearing once the Informal Board at the PEB has found you unfit.

Oh, and as SFC Private RallyPoint Member said, using your military income to qualify for a loan is a BAD move.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 25 at 2021 3:30 PM

2021-10-25T15:30:26-04:00

Just like any other unit- you will receive orders which should conform you your Post's policies. There will briefings to attend where they will cover what can and can't be done.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 26 at 2021 12:23 AM

2021-10-26T00:23:17-04:00

After the package is submitted to the board you generally have 6 months of waiting. Sometimes they are fast but expect 6 months.

You can go ahead and get TAP and all of the basic formalities out of the way. Once your findings come back within 10 days of signing your findings with the PEBLO you will receive a revised ETS/EAS date. Included in the consideration for your new date is turn around time, terminal leave and everything else. They do the math for you. There is a process to extend to 6-12 months if you need more time for dependents or anything else but that is easy/difficult depending on your chain of command. Personally I added some time to help job hunt. My original MEB EAS was first week of June and I extended till Aug 30 to help with personal logistics.

Response by SSG Richard Johnson made Nov 11 at 2021 7:12 AM

2021-11-11T07:12:26-05:00

SPC Nguyen,

Wife is currently going through her MEB. Problem is, because of the last year and a half, timelines and estimates are out of whack. She was initially told, if nothing had to be appealed or re-evaluated, expect 90 days from start to completion of the IDES process, then base clearing and terminal leave from there. We are at almost 6 months now and her packet just got to the PEB for review a couple weeks ago, and when you include the holidays shutting everything down here soon, it protracts timelines more.

As far as timelines, keep in contact with you MEB advisor and don't forget that after separation you have one final PCS to utilize. Hope everything works out.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 11 at 2021 3:52 PM

2021-11-11T15:52:00-05:00

I used 30 days of leave to prepare for my last PCS move. If you are married make sure and go to the place where they can input your data for the GI Bill. I don't remember the name of the office. The key is to add names of dependents into your GI Bill so they can have access to it.