Your thoughts on the MEB/PEB process?

COL Vincent Stoneking — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 09:08:16 -0400

I'm curious about people's experience with the MEB/PEB process - whether as someone who went through, is involved in the administration, or as someone who provides input or receives outputs from the process.

I know that as a commander my view could be summed up as "how can it take that long to do ANYTHING??!!" and I was stunned to find out that the military disability rating system is completely separate from that of the VA.

For the record, I am healthy as a horse, and am not going through, or contemplating going through, the system. I recently did some reading on the subject and found myself immensely overwhelmed.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Sep 20 at 2014 9:12 AM

LTC Jason Strickland — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 09:12:43 -0400

COL Vincent Stoneking, you're absolutely right on two points:
(1) It takes way too long. My experience was similar while I was still serving.
(2) There is no reason why the VA can't dovetail into the MEB/PEB process for ease of transition, elimination of redundancy, and "customer" satisfaction for the service member.

Response by SSG Genaro Negrete made Sep 30 at 2014 11:33 AM

SSG Genaro Negrete — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 11:33:09 -0400

I've often suggested to the SME's on this that they hold a "train the leader" seminar for the MEB/PEB process. As a first line supervisor, I should not be basing my information off of what my soldier is telling me. I'm not implying the soldier is a liar, but if i am to keep his/her best interest in mind, I need a working knowledge about all of it. Time frames, possible out comes, rebuttal options, how to manage expectations, anything that can help me ensure the soldier is getting a square deal.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Jun 8 at 2015 9:45 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 21:45:29 -0400

Sir, I went through a 27-month medical board and also served as cadre in a Warrior Transition Battalion.

Somethings are out of our control. Broken bones are black and white cases but behavioral health are more complex and take longer. Some soldier receive surgery, rehabilitation, and re-evaluation before determining medical retirement/separation.

Also there are many points in the medical board process, meaning MEB phase and PEB phase, where the soldier can challenge findings, request and appeal or a independent medical review (IMR).

The Deputy Chief for Clinical Services (DCCS) owns the MEB phase. He works directly for the Hospital Commander. The PEBLO and PCM fall under the hospital. but once we talk about the PEB, VA, or DES its hard as they do their thing in their own little world.

This is just my observations. And I can go into a lot more details off line. I lived the pain and survived it.

Response by SSG Roderick Smith made May 25 at 2016 8:35 AM

SSG Roderick Smith — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:35:04 -0400

COL Vincent Stoneking,
I'm a little late to this party, but I have some input.

Back in early 2006, I had been in the Army for about 2 years. I was in peak, and I mean PEAK, physical condition. After returning from competing in the Bataan Memorial Death March, I began showing signs of diabetes. I was officially diagnosed, and sent back to Fort Eustis for my MEB (I was stationed in Korea) after about 4 months of waiting. I have to say, the process was pretty straightforward. I went and saw an endocrinologist, he did all of the exams and such, and my PEBLO explained the process and submitted everything. The only thing I did was write up a letter to the Board expressing my desire to remain on Active Duty. After about 6 months, the determination came back that I was Fit For Duty with a P3 profile, and I reenlisted, got a school, and went on my merry way.

Then things got a little ridiculous. Ever since that first MEB, I have been constantly fighting the process. In the 10 years since my diagnosis, I have endured no less than 20 PCM changes... and that's being generous. THAT is where the MEB/PEB process has been a burden. Most of them didn't understand the process, and tried to use it to basically get rid of me. I have had more than one PCM walk into the exam room on my first visit, excitedly/angrily say "Do you know that you're diabetic!? You can't be in the Army if you're diabetic!", and then push the process and get me coded for an MEB. This wreaked havoc with my career. Whenever that code hits the system, it stops everything. Just got your school date for ALC? Not anymore. PCSing? Not anymore. I spent 6 years at Fort Sill, missed ALC twice, and was coded for an MEB 4 times. Only once did I go through the entire MEB process, and was again found Fit For Duty. On that occasion, I was actually clearing and preparing to PCS to Germany. I sat down with the provider at the SRP section, and he gave me the same incredulous treatment as the other clueless PCMs. This one stuck, but I think it was because I was so close to the 5 year re-eval time for my profile. Anyway, the process was again pretty straightforward. however, this time I expressed to my PEBLO that I would prefer to get out, because I was so frustrated with my standard of medical care. Unfortunately, I believe that between my physical condition (great, with 290 APFT scores and the like) a very favorable performance statement from my CDR, and the fact that my condition hadn't worsened (no loss of circulation in extremities, no decreased kidney function, no hospitalizations, etc.), they found no reason to get rid of me.

3 years later... we're still at it. I just had my 4th PCM change here in Germany (doesn't include Endo doc changes either), and at my first appointment, my PCM actually decided NOT to pursue an MEB because he didn't think they would come back with anything other than Fit For Duty. He suggested that I reenlist (indef), and try for a 15 year retirement. And then he fiddled with my insulin dosages for whatever reason, and that was that.

So in summary, my problem hasn't really been with the MEB/PEB process, but I think that is because it has been mostly favorable to me. Two MEBs, and I have waited less than 1 year cumulatively for the findings. I've never been reclassed, and it's been classified as Line of Duty because it didn't exist prior to enlistment. I haven't had to endure an appeals process, and my PEBLOs always kept me relatively informed. My issue has been with the inexperience and lack of give-a-crap from my providers.

Response by SFC Byron Perry made Jun 14 at 2018 4:11 PM

SFC Byron Perry — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 16:11:35 -0400

I got screwed by the MEB/PEB system, I suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in the line of duty. The young private that was doing my testing during my medical evaluation did it completely wrong so it showed that I was almost normal, but I wake up everyday in a new world. I can only function because my long term memory is mostly intact. Because she did it wrong the board didn't think that there is anything wrong with me, as most of my injuries are hidden inside my skull.