The PDBR offers a reassessment of service-assigned disability ratings to eligible veterans who apply. The PDBR uses the VA Schedule of Rating Disabilities only, without any service-specific rules, which provides for a more uniform rating across all services.
About 77,000 veterans are eligible to apply to the board and appeal their original Physical Evaluation Board ratings. These include veterans who were medically separated from their service between Sept. 11, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2009 with a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less.
Although the PDBR is a DoD board, it is operated by the Air Force with representatives from all the Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard). Often the board's recommendations result in higher disability ratings for veterans. "We've given the benefit of the doubt to the veteran applicant when it could go either way," LoGrande said. "We gather their physical evaluation board documentation, service treatment records and any VA medical records. After a thorough review of all the documentation, the board convenes to re-adjudicate their case and make a recommendation to the appropriate service secretary."
The service secretaries (or their designees) act as the final decision authority in determining the applicant's overall disability rating.
About 800 veterans applied to the board in its first year, and that number is increasing daily. To date, the PDBR's recommendations in 61 percent of the cases reviewed by the board have resulted in ratings which made applicants eligible for disability retirement. The Army and Air Force have adopted nearly 100 percent of the board's recommendations, while the Navy has approved about 68 percent. LoGrande explained that the board's review process is very thorough, and includes a doctor and two line officers. "The most prevalent conditions seen in the first six months have been disabilities due to PTSD, TBI, and back and musculoskeletal conditions," he said.
Expressing concern, LoGrande said, "We currently have only six adjudicators and 77,000 potential applications."
"This is not something that we as DoD can ignore," LoGrande said. "It is mandated by Congress and we hope to get more resources and manpower to do this right."
<H1 style="BACKGROUND: white">Physical Disability Board of Review </H1>Service members who have been medically separated since September 11, 2001 will have the opportunity to have their disability ratings reviewed to ensure fairness and accuracy.
The new Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) will examine each applicant's medical separation, compare DoD and VA ratings, and make a recommendation to the respective Service Secretary (or designee.) A disability rating cannot be lowered and any change to the rating is effective on the date of final decision by the Service Secretary.
To be eligible for PDBR review, a service member must have been medically separated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009 with a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less, and not found eligible for retirement.
There are significant differences between this new PDBR review and a Board for Correction of Military (or Naval) Record (BCMR/BCNR) review. These differences are outlined here and are also in the instructions accompanying the application (form DD-294).
While the Air Force is the lead for the PDBR process, case tracking and reporting, a joint service board will conduct the evaluation and review of each case. Applicants will not be able to appear in person, but may include any statements, briefs, medical records or other supporting documents with their application. After the document review is completed and a final decision is made, each applicant will be notified of the decision and any further information regarding a change of rating.
Please refer to the FAQ document for more information about the Physical Disability Board of Review.
You may contact the PDBR intake unit at the following address:
SAF/MRBR
550 C Street West
Suite 41
Randolph AFB, Texas 78150-4743
Please keep in mind that this office cannot discuss the merits of your application. You may wish to contact your local veterans' service organization for advice or guidance.
Question
gp747
To: "Veteran Issues by Colonel Dan" <VeteranIssues@yahoogroups.com>
http://www.health. mil/News_ And_Multimedia/ News/detail/ 10-03-26/ New_DoD_Board_ Aims_to_Provide_ Uniform_Disabili ty_Ratings. aspx://http://www.health. mil/News_ And_Mu...y_Ratings. aspx://http://www.health. mil/News_ And_Mu...y_Ratings. aspx
New DoD Board Aims to Provide Uniform Disability Ratings
Matt Pueschel | FHP&R
March 26, 2010
A new DoD board has been established to offer certain veterans an opportunity to appeal their service disability evaluation ratings.
At a meeting in the FHP&R offices in late February, Michael LoGrande, president of the DoD Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR), provided a group of military and veterans service organizations (MSO/VSO) with an overview of the new board, which was mandated by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. http://www.health. mil/About_ MHS/Organization s/MHS_Offices_ and_Programs/ PDBR://http://www.health. mil/About_ MHS/O..._Programs/ PDBR://http://www.health. mil/About_ MHS/O..._Programs/ PDBR
The PDBR offers a reassessment of service-assigned disability ratings to eligible veterans who apply. The PDBR uses the VA Schedule of Rating Disabilities only, without any service-specific rules, which provides for a more uniform rating across all services.
About 77,000 veterans are eligible to apply to the board and appeal their original Physical Evaluation Board ratings. These include veterans who were medically separated from their service between Sept. 11, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2009 with a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less.
Although the PDBR is a DoD board, it is operated by the Air Force with representatives from all the Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard). Often the board's recommendations result in higher disability ratings for veterans. "We've given the benefit of the doubt to the veteran applicant when it could go either way," LoGrande said. "We gather their physical evaluation board documentation, service treatment records and any VA medical records. After a thorough review of all the documentation, the board convenes to re-adjudicate their case and make a recommendation to the appropriate service secretary."
The service secretaries (or their designees) act as the final decision authority in determining the applicant's overall disability rating.
About 800 veterans applied to the board in its first year, and that number is increasing daily. To date, the PDBR's recommendations in 61 percent of the cases reviewed by the board have resulted in ratings which made applicants eligible for disability retirement. The Army and Air Force have adopted nearly 100 percent of the board's recommendations, while the Navy has approved about 68 percent. LoGrande explained that the board's review process is very thorough, and includes a doctor and two line officers. "The most prevalent conditions seen in the first six months have been disabilities due to PTSD, TBI, and back and musculoskeletal conditions," he said.
Expressing concern, LoGrande said, "We currently have only six adjudicators and 77,000 potential applications."
"This is not something that we as DoD can ignore," LoGrande said. "It is mandated by Congress and we hope to get more resources and manpower to do this right."
<H1 style="BACKGROUND: white">Physical Disability Board of Review </H1>Service members who have been medically separated since September 11, 2001 will have the opportunity to have their disability ratings reviewed to ensure fairness and accuracy.
The new Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) will examine each applicant's medical separation, compare DoD and VA ratings, and make a recommendation to the respective Service Secretary (or designee.) A disability rating cannot be lowered and any change to the rating is effective on the date of final decision by the Service Secretary.
To be eligible for PDBR review, a service member must have been medically separated between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2009 with a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less, and not found eligible for retirement.
There are significant differences between this new PDBR review and a Board for Correction of Military (or Naval) Record (BCMR/BCNR) review. These differences are outlined here and are also in the instructions accompanying the application (form DD-294).
While the Air Force is the lead for the PDBR process, case tracking and reporting, a joint service board will conduct the evaluation and review of each case. Applicants will not be able to appear in person, but may include any statements, briefs, medical records or other supporting documents with their application. After the document review is completed and a final decision is made, each applicant will be notified of the decision and any further information regarding a change of rating.
A final version of the application (form DD-294) was approved on January 9, 2009 and is available at http://www.dtic. mil/whs/directiv es/infomgt/ forms/formsprogr am.htm://http://www.dtic. mil/whs/directiv e...rmsprogr am.htm://http://www.dtic. mil/whs/directiv e...rmsprogr am.htm (under "DoD Forms Inventory 0001-0499"). Applications are now being accepted.
Please refer to the FAQ document for more information about the Physical Disability Board of Review.
You may contact the PDBR intake unit at the following address:
SAF/MRBR
550 C Street West
Suite 41
Randolph AFB, Texas 78150-4743
Please keep in mind that this office cannot discuss the merits of your application. You may wish to contact your local veterans' service organization for advice or guidance.
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