MEB / PEB / TDRL / PDRL

2014-09-13T15:43:16-04:00

Good afternoon fellow Rally Pointers,

Having completed the arduous trek known as the MEB / PEB process and been placed on the PDRL I wanted to provide my experiences and ask about others.

My main issue / complaint with the process is a lack of quantifiable information.

When I started the process after my two removed ago PHA (physical health assessment) and my MEB packet started through channels for over a year I heard nothing. Follow up emails went unanswered and my unit had no information; moreover, was seeming impaired from contacting anyone.

Once this was resolved, by me contacting the Medical BN SGM, then the packet went for a final review before being shipped to Fort Carson, CO for the actual MEB. Remember, I am one year into this process before it really starts.

My PEBLO (Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer) contacts me. She was affable if not somewhat disconnected. She was friendly, but not forthcoming. This would grow to be a festering issue for me later. She provided a briefing on the process, what to expect, and potential outcomes. Basically, the potential outcomes are: Return to active service, severance, Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL), or Permanent Disability Retirement List (PDRL). She explained the next step was to have examinations scheduled and a VA representative to ensure all conditions to be evaluated are listed.

Medical exams come and go. The MEB (Medical Evaluation Board) meets and finds me unfit, identifies and diagnoses conditions, and makes an "informal ruling." This automatically triggers the PEB (Physical Evaluation Board).

The MEB results are transmitted to the PEB who makes an informal ruling of me being unfit and requests the VA to complete ratings. This is where I would suggest you re-examine your patience. This part of the process took eighteen months. It was taxing. At the point the VA admitted my file was misrouted as someone failed to mark it as ready for review / rating in the VA system. My PEBLO claimed this was not true, sparking some concerns on my part.

Once the ratings were completed by the VA they are sent to the PEB who decides whether the conditions are combat related, instrument of war related (could be realistic training for combat), or service connected but not combat related. The final ratings are completed and you receive a plethora of documents which explain the decision of the PEB, the recommended action, and your options.

Once your decision is made you send to the PEBLO and it is forwarded for final action by the Army Physical Disability Agency.

In my case the decision was for PDRL. My unit abandoned me and I out processed and had a retired ID in less than 60 days. No retirement ceremony and no retirement award. I received a retirement certificate in the mail in a tube with no certificate of appreciation for my wife and not even a US Army Retired lapel pin.

I felt and feel the process beat me down. While my PEBLO thought she was a good advocate, she would not work to obtain real and quantifiable information. She may have been instructed or told not to, I don't know. My unit was lost and had no idea what to do with me, so they did nothing. No support, no assistance, not even an email or a phone call from the Sergeant Major to check on me or ask how the process was going. When it ended I did not so much as receive a telephone call from the Commander or Sergeant Major.

It was hard to end my career this way. It is hard to maintain my sense of pride about my career accomplishments when no one seemingly cared at all towards the end. This is an internal issue for me, but my hope is that we might develop a peer group to begin examining this and supporting other Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who face the same process and result.

Thank you,

SFC Joseph M. Finck USA (Ret)

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2014 3:52 PM

2014-09-13T15:52:57-04:00

Man, that's a rough way to go out! I am surprised that your PEBLO rep didn't do more. And what's up with your unit just kicking you out the door like you never existed? Not a good way to treat someone who has given so much to sacrifice for this country!

Response by Sgt William Biggs made Oct 11 at 2017 11:37 AM

2017-10-11T11:37:32-04:00

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS Really sorry to hear about that. You definitely deserved better and so did your spouse. I was just placed on PDRL myself. I'm a little saddened to think I may be treated the same. If you ever need anything, let me know!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2019 8:33 AM

2019-03-18T08:33:57-04:00

I completely understand. I was subjected to the PEB based on a Temporary Profile, assessed by a P.A., not a real doctor, had the statements of the military and civilian psyciatrists ignored ( not even included in the packet), was not assigned a PEBLO, and then had to pay the entire bill for travel and housing to attend my formal board. My informal board was conducted by just one officer, a 1LT. Fortunately I succuref my own lawyer, the JAG officer they assign are grossly over worked, averaging a hearing a day. That is not a reasonable amount of time available to research and prepare arguments for such a case.
Frankly, the entire MEB/PEB process is a sham. It has become a tool for shady and cowardly leaders to remove those they dislike.