TheHud

Before the military, I worked for U.P.S. I can still work but due to the spinal problems I could not go back to that kind of physically intensive work. My problem with jobs that I have had since then is that I can't stay seated too long before my back starts getting more and more painful, but I can't stand for too long without my knees and ankles starting to hurt more and more.

Hello. I was discharged from the Army in 2005. VA origionally had me at combined 20% disability, but after first visit/evaluation at the VA, that was bumped to 50% combined (spine, knees, ankles and lungs). I have been getting VA benifits since date of discharge. I did get severence pay, but that was docked out of my VA bens untill it was payed back. My wife found information regarding the Physical Disability Board of Review, or PDBR. Apparantly members medically discharged between 2001 and 2009 with 20% or lower are encouraged to get a review to see if it should have been higher, thus earning a medical retirement, instead of just discharge. Does anyone have any experience with this? I had a couple of questions. First, is the 20% the VA originally granted the 20% the PDBR refers to, or is there a another rating the Army gave me that I am not aware of? Second, if I do this and am granted a medical retirement, am I still eligable for VA benifits?