1. What is the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES)?
The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) is a joint DOD/VA process for determining whether a disabled service member is unfit for continued military service, and, if so, the level of military disability benefits the service member should receive upon discharge.
To assess the severity and compensability of disabilities through the IDES, a service member’s case is generally considered by two boards: a medical evaluation board (MEB) and a physical evaluation board (PEB). The PEB evaluates all major illnesses or disabilities and decides whether any of them make the member unfit for continued service, and, if so, which ones cause the member to be “unfit.”
Once the PEB determines which conditions make a member unfit, a disability rating (reflecting the severity of the disability) is assigned to each unfitting condition by a VA rating specialist using the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).
A combined military disability rating of 30% or more entitles the service member upon discharge to medical retirement benefits, which include lifetime monthly disability retired pay; lifetime military health care for the veteran, spouse, and minor children; access to military commissaries and post exchanges; and other retirement benefits. However, a service member assigned a combined military disability rating of less than 30% receives a lump-sum severance payment and no retirement benefits.
2. What type of IDES assistance is available through NVLSP's Lawyers Serving Warriors® program?
At no cost to the service member, our program will assign a trained attorney to represent the service member throughout the entire IDES process.
3. If I have been placed on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL), am I eligible for free legal assistance with TDRL medical processing?
Yes, service members who have been placed on the TDRL are eligible for free assistance through our Lawyers Serving Warriors® project.