Posted on Feb 13, 2022
What all is included in a fit for duty evaluation?
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I was told by the MAJ at my unit who is an MEB physician that I needed to finish consistent physical therapy and get my injury listed as "stable" (off crutches) thru physical therapy for her to recommend me for my MEB because the board wants to see I expended all of my options available to me. She's on track to recommend me when that happens and mentioned a "fit for duty" evaluation. What does this evaluation include? She said she'll do that evaluation and after that recommend me for my MEB. Also what is required of me after recommendation or is it a waiting game? Detailed answers would be fantastic considering I'm mostly left in the dark when it comes to this whole situation I am in.
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Posted 3 y ago
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There are no MEB physicians, any provider - Nurse, PA, or physician can initiate an MEB.
The evaluation is your provider looking at your medical history and giving you a permanent P3 profile and recommending you for a med board. Then a physician reviews it and approves the profile. Then the IDES office reviews it and initiates the MEB. Once it's started, you'll be assigned a PEBLO who will give you a brief about the process and you should be out of the Army in six months.
If you're a PFC, you will probably not be medically retired but get medical separation. Especially if you're in physical therapy right now, your injury is not likely to be severe enough to rate 30% disability on the Army side that you would need for retirement.
The evaluation is your provider looking at your medical history and giving you a permanent P3 profile and recommending you for a med board. Then a physician reviews it and approves the profile. Then the IDES office reviews it and initiates the MEB. Once it's started, you'll be assigned a PEBLO who will give you a brief about the process and you should be out of the Army in six months.
If you're a PFC, you will probably not be medically retired but get medical separation. Especially if you're in physical therapy right now, your injury is not likely to be severe enough to rate 30% disability on the Army side that you would need for retirement.
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PFC (Join to see)
That's what I heard the process was like from a buddy of mine who went thru and got medically retired as a PV2 who would have gone to PFC had he been in a little longer. But planning on claiming the two fractures and torn MCL in my right leg and my panic disorder they diagnosed me with a few weeks ago.
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SFC (Join to see)
PFC (Join to see) you should be aware that people your time in service, like your buddy, are almost never medically retired permanently unless they are seriously crippled in a training accident. Most of the time you will be placed on the temporary disability retirement list, then reevaluated in five years and removed. Especially when mental health is a factor. The reason is, is that the IDES board considers that a preexisting condition because you haven't been in the Army long enough to develop serious mental health problems from your service in a short time.
The fractures are only going to receive a rating if they impair your ability to function once healed, fractures themselves are generally not claimable. The meniscus tear will probably not rate anything because meniscus tears are very recoverable with surgery and physical therapy.
You might just want to ask your provider for a medical reclass.
The fractures are only going to receive a rating if they impair your ability to function once healed, fractures themselves are generally not claimable. The meniscus tear will probably not rate anything because meniscus tears are very recoverable with surgery and physical therapy.
You might just want to ask your provider for a medical reclass.
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The med board does several things. But after all the medical evals and everything else the board has to answer the question of whether you are fit for duty or not. Are you capable of further service or are you going to be medically separated or retired. When you are recommended to a med board you are assigned a case worker who walks you through the entire process
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PFC (Join to see)
SSgt Christophe Murphy - That's what I was guessing, I've been doing appointments and treatment since July of 2021 so I'm getting close to the 12 month mark. They want to see that I've done consistent physical therapy first before recommending me for MEB.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
PFC (Join to see) - I still think there is some missing information. Are you on limited duty or light duty? Have you been a signed a MEB case worker or PEBLO? It sounds like you aren't in the pipeline for a MEB at all. My 12 month timeframe is from the time you are entered into the MEB process and placed on limited duty.
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PFC (Join to see)
SSgt Christophe Murphy Ohhh ok no, I haven’t been recommended yet I was told I needed to go thru consistent physical therapy first before recommendation so the MEB can see that I expended all my options then was told after physical therapy i’m gonna be run thru a fit for duty test then recommendation
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
PFC (Join to see) that’s normal. Just stick with the treatment plan and do your best to get better so you don’t have to cross that bridge
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