Army Medical Retirement Question

[Signal6]

I have a question for anyone that knows about the military medical retirement system.

In 2005 I was injuried in an explosion in Iraq. I am in the Army Reserves and was released from active duty in Jan 2006 after returning from Iraq. I was recently diagnosised with TBI and failed the TBI testing at the VA. My question is, since I am still in the Reserves would I have a case to seek medical retirement from the Army and if so how do you go about it?

Thanks

[USMC_HVEQ]

let me speak from personal knowledge. I am on TDRL, temp diability retired list. You get a percetnage of your active rank pay. It depends on how long you were in. You first need to be in NPQ status with your unit/sent to a med board. Once the med board goes on, you have a military version of the C&P. They make an assessment of fitting/unfitting for military service. They make a formal write up and submit to a PEB. The PEB takes into account all your medical history and a letter from your unit. Once they decide say 1-2 months, if they find you are 30% or more then you are considered medically retired. Furthermore,if this is determined, they then determine if you are temp or permanently disabled in their eyes. ONce permanent there is no changing amount of percent and you get this percetnage of rank pay for life. They usually side with TDRL to protect both you and them. IF your stuff gets better they dont have to pay. If it gets worse then you can be compensated in the future.

Keys are MED board--> PEB (result over 30%=medical retirement (blue id card) and percentage of rank pay, no lump sum)

less then 30% (0-20%)=lump sum payment {1 months active pay X2 X active years (total retirment points dived by 360 to figure it out). once you rec this, you wont get any more from the army, plus if you wan tto get VA money in the future, you must pay this back before you can get a dime from them.

[kw34]

let me speak from personal knowledge. I am on TDRL, temp diability retired list. You get a percetnage of your active rank pay. It depends on how long you were in. You first need to be in NPQ status with your unit/sent to a med board. Once the med board goes on, you have a military version of the C&P. They make an assessment of fitting/unfitting for military service. They make a formal write up and submit to a PEB. The PEB takes into account all your medical history and a letter from your unit. Once they decide say 1-2 months, if they find you are 30% or more then you are considered medically retired. Furthermore,if this is determined, they then determine if you are temp or permanently disabled in their eyes. ONce permanent there is no changing amount of percent and you get this percetnage of rank pay for life. They usually side with TDRL to protect both you and them. IF your stuff gets better they dont have to pay. If it gets worse then you can be compensated in the future.

Keys are MED board--> PEB (result over 30%=medical retirement (blue id card) and percentage of rank pay, no lump sum)

less then 30% (0-20%)=lump sum payment {1 months active pay X2 X active years (total retirment points dived by 360 to figure it out). once you rec this, you wont get any more from the army, plus if you wan tto get VA money in the future, you must pay this back before you can get a dime from them.

Were you on active duty ar in reserve status?

[USMC_HVEQ]

i was usmc reservist, i was just trying to add some insight since signal6 is army reserve/national guard at this point. I get about 1000 a month on TDRL, but it is waived cuz I get more from VA.

JUst trying to help any way I can.

[kw34]

The reason I asked is that I know several people in this position and the were discharged after being found unfit. This is news that i could pass on to them. I thought TDRL was available only if on active duty.

[Fletch]

I was med boarded with 30% sacroiliac joint dysfunction and 10% for migraines. I only got to keep my base privileges (ID) for 1 year after discharge. I'm currently rated at 50%. I could totally use base privileges again. I just had another surgery March 28th and am recovering from that.

[USMC_HVEQ]

fletch, I don't think you get retirement, but I could be wrong. You might want to look into it. I know the TDRL thing is new, as far as full benefits as normal retiree. I don't know what you need to do. I have a feeling that you're more then likely out of luck, even for the commissary/base privilages which you seek.

I think Signal6 has a better chance if he is sent by his reserve/national guard unit.

yes, if you are a reservist/national guard member, you can get TDRL. ALl the same criteria must be met. the major difference is how your pay is computed, which I'm not going to go into.

hope anything I say, helps your cause

Semper Fidelis