New program for medical retirements/separations in the works

  • Published
  • By Brett Kangas
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Airmen being medically separated or retired from the Air Force will soon benefit from a new and improved disability evaluation system known as the Integrated Disability Evaluation System scheduled to be implemented June 2011.

IDES is a joint effort to align the Department of Defense's and Department of Veterans Affairs' disability evaluations. Under IDES, Airmen will know their disability rating and the compensation they will receive from the Air Force and the VA before medically retiring or separating.

According to John R. Campbell, the defense deputy undersecretary for wounded warrior care and transition policy, under the old system the VA evaluations started only after the DOD (evaluation) was complete. Because of that, it took up to 540 days for the whole disability evaluation system to be finalized.

"Under the current system, Airmen don't receive compensation from the VA until their case has been evaluated, which could take 12 months," said Grant Frazier, 436th Medical Group physical evaluation board liaison officer. "In addition, Airmen already in the process of a Medical Evaluation Board prior to implementation of IDES will remain under the current program; they will not switch to the new one."

Upon implementation of IDES, Airmen entering an MEB will submit VA disability claims while being evaluated by the Air Force. Once an individual has been identified by their primary care manager (PCM) as having an illness or injury requiring MEB processing, the individual will go to the VA for a comprehensive disability examination conducted by VA certified physicians. "A report of the medical condition(s) found by the VA is forwarded to the PCM," Mr. Frazier said. "The VA administered disability exam and rating are used by both the Air Force and the VA to determine the Airman's fitness for duty and eligibility for DOD and VA benefits."

While the Air Force solely seeks to find out if the Airman is fit for duty, the VA digs a bit deeper to find out what illnesses and injuries the Airman incurred while on active duty.

"The DOD and VA have combined efforts to improve health care services and benefits provided to our service members, veterans and their families. It allows an avenue for quickly retuning those who may continue to serve. For those found unfit for duty, IDES helps the member with separating, compensation and the transition to the care of the VA," said Mr. Frazier.

Under the new program, Airmen who are medically retired will begin receiving their retirement pay one month after retirement. If separated, they will begin receiving disability compensation from the VA within a month after separating.

"It's a great program, everyone benefits. We are working out all the kinks now and excited to implement IDES as soon as possible," said Mr. Frazier.

(Editor's note: Information contributed by Karen Parrish, American Forces Press Service.)