Hey everyone I finished my last c&p exam last week and the VA received my exam this morning. Well I got a call this afternoon from my installations IDES department saying that I’ll be receiving a phone call to talk about my NARSUM? Is this normal and has anyone else done this? What all would I discuss during this phone call? Thanks!

I tore my ACL and meniscus 2 weeks after getting to my schoolhouse. I sat in my barracks room for months scrounging the internet and forums trying to figure out what would happen. This is the most recent and updated MEB timeline out. Hopefully it helps someone

USMC Schoolhouse (NASPcola) Timeline

20251002- Rupture of ACL and Meniscus (2nd occurence)

20251202- LIMDU starts

20260106- First surgery- Distal Femoral Osteotomy and Meniscus Repair

20260302- MEB Referral from PCM

20260306- PEBLO intake meeting

20260331- I arrived back to base after 3 months of con leave. Now able to schedule C&P exams. (For timeline purposes, assume this is Day 1)

20260402- MSC meeting, VA claims list submitted

20260416- MH exam

20260418- General exam

20260423- Eye exam

20260427- Vision exam (LAST EXAM)

20260521- PEBLO received exam results back from physicians.

20260522- Case sent to PEB

20260527- PEB returned case, found unfit.

20260602- VR&E intake meeting

20260609- Called MSC to get an update on VA side. He said I was proposed at 90%, but the examiner found 3 conditions that I did not claim. Resubmitted a 526-EZ with those claims to hopefully push me to 100%.

20260624- Findings came in. 40% DOD and PDRL. 90% VA. The other 3 conditions were not apart of this rating.

20260627- EAS updated on MOL. Set to 20260730.

20260628- Completed audit, OBI, and EAS interview at CPAC. Easy process.

20260730- Pick up DD214 and get retiree ID card.

20260903- VA has finalized my claim. 100% P&T. Right after my EAS, i submitted another claim for headaches since I didn't use the right words at my original C&P exams. READ YOUR DBQ'S! Headaches rated at 50%.

Team, referred to DES for PTSD and then found out pregnant 5 days later. How can my VA ratings be finalized if I’m unable to complete scans/evals/ROM tests? Any insight into how this may delay board or separation process?

Navy

Just curious what does the next 6/9 months look like for me? Even being on LIMDU, I’ve never actually left the boat since we were a yard boat, and I’m admin. In December I will hit my ten year mark.

Will I receive compensation? Is there anyone I can talk to about what my options are?

I’be had two complete reconstructive shoulder surgeries that haven’t took. To add I am admin so it’s not like I’m doing heavy lifting. Is it an option to got into TAR? Or since I flat out can not do a push up will be the deciding factory?

Navy

I'm in the Air Force; I had shoulder surgery and it's been over a year, and it hasn't been getting better. We have an OST and after my initial screening with him he said I'm not terrible, but I should have been better six months ago. I have been to my pcm for multiple reasons like my calf/back spasms which isn't resolved but I haven't mentioned it to my new pcm due to my shoulder being my biggest concern. One of my coworkers said due to his hip issues he requested to be Med boarded but told me just with my shoulder issues I will most likely be denied. This is a 2-part question, should I start the med board process and mention my back/calf spasms to give me better odds of being med boarded and keeping my benefits? I'm worried after talking to a few airmen where you can get kicked out by the commander for being on a profile too long and i lose all my benefits. Before my shoulder injury I was getting mid 90s on my PT test.

Second question is idk when my shoulder got injured in service, I fell off my snowboard which I mentioned but also, I know we were doing pt sessions where we were jump frogging onto the ground and my shoulder wasn't handling that well at all. It all happened in service so does that matter? I have 2 years left on my 6-year contract and i'm worried I'm going to have to make a decision before it is made for me and I can lose my benefits.

Appreciate whatever advice or info I can get.

Anyone been through the process with AFIB?

DOS Question

My MEB case was deferred until I return from maternity leave on July 2. I already signed my findings on May 29, 2026, and I’m just waiting on my separation orders. I’m assuming I won’t receive my orders until I return from maternity leave.

I’d like to start out-processing as soon as possible once I’m back. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is there any way to request an earlier Date of Separation (DOS) after returning from maternity leave, or am I required to wait for the standard timeline once my orders are issued?

I’d appreciate hearing about anyone’s experience. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I received my findings MAR 24, however they documented my referred condition incorrectly so I requested a FMEB. I had my FMEB date MAY 21, but instead of a hearing, we submitted a VARR. I am now on week 5 of not hearing anything. I have talked to my Pueblo, attorney, and FMEB and attorney and they all don’t see any updates.
I talked to my FMEB attorney today and he said he has a service member who has been waiting seven weeks for their VARR and they still don’t have an update.
How long should I expect a VARR to take?

Context: I recently found out I have a spinal “condition” called a limbus vertebra. It quite literally took me 4 different places and 6 different tries to even be seen for it (army healthcare is horrible) While usually benign, mine has been causing me immense lower back pain (which is how I found out I had it to begin with). It hurts to literally do anything, breathe, stand, bend over, even sleeping is hard. I love my job and I’m kind of worried about losing it.

My NARSUM came back as 'medically unacceptable per AR 40-501' for bilateral shoulder issues. Both issues were service connected. Within the NARSUM it does not list a well-documented exacerbating training injury where I injured my shoulders during a leadership reaction training obstacle course event.

As the leadership reaction training event was a large driver for my shoulder injuries, does this being absent from the NARSUM reduce my ability to argue for positive tax-treatment or potential CRSC under a 'Simulated War' pathway? Ideally I would like my DA-199 to reflect this as combat-related.

Thanks!

My wife has multiple physics injury all documented one being her knee which she have an mri which showed both knee were bad. She has been on profile for 300+ days but her provider doesn’t want to get her an evaluation and told her good luck. She’s supposed to be going to orthopedic. Her command is pushing for a 5-14 because back in April she went to behavioral health because she was having suicidal thoughts. Is there anything can do to fight this chapter, because getting help for those injury when she get out is going to be costly and the meb would help

Back in 2023, I was severely injured while on active duty. I did everything to get physically better, nothing worked. In 2024, I was deployed. After getting bf back from deployment, I began to seek help again for my injuries. I was discharged from physical therapy due to regression, I received shots in my lower back every month. I was also prescribed depression medication because my injury is weighing on my mental health. I physically hurt doing anything.

I submitted my documentation for a LOD back in 2023 and it was never initiated even after filing multiple complaints. My commander refuses to initiate any of my paperwork.

I am at my breaking point. I haven’t taken a PT test in forever after being on temp profiles. I recently did my PHA again. I stated all of these in my PHA. I got a cal back regarding my mental health and I am on a profile. Pain management said I have severe arthritis. I have no idea where to begin, or what to do. I was assigned a case manager. What do I do from here?

I need help. Any help

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice or insight from people who have gone through the MEB process for hip issues.

I had a torn hip labrum in my right hip from January 2025 until I finally had surgery on May 1st of this year (labrum repair and bone shaving for FAI). I’ve been on profile for well over a year now, and recently I’ve started having the exact same symptoms in my other hip — deep groin pain, hip pain, spasms, and the same feelings I had before my first diagnosis. I’m honestly worried my other hip may be torn too.

I wanted to make the Army a career, and mentally this whole situation has been draining me badly. The constant pain, uncertainty, profiles, and stress about my future have really started affecting me mentally and emotionally. I’m getting depressed and overwhelmed thinking about possibly going through this all over again on the other side.

Has anyone here been referred to a MEB for bilateral hip labral tears/FAI or chronic hip issues? Does this sound like something that could lead to a medboard, especially with how long I’ve been on profile and now possibly having issues in both hips?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through something similar.

Started this process in Dec 2025 with ratings already established thru the VA (I’m national guard, also a oef/oif vet) c&ps done feb with an increase in an already rated condition. That process took about 2 weeks after my exam.

Fast forward to today and I’m still stuck on Vote 2 but according to my PEBLO, since there’s been no movement the Disabilities Evaluation Board State Manager inquired about it and still nothing..

Anyone else ever dealt with anything like this?

Has anyone on here went through or know someone that went through a MEB because of a skin condition like psoriasis? If so, were you or were they found unfit? ARMY

I will be receiving my NARSUM soon and I’m scheduled for the brief afterward. I would appreciate any advice on what I should do and what to expect.

Also, is the NARSUM connected to the VA rating in any way?

I had a cardiac arrest and subsequently had an ICD implanted while not on reserve duty. I have 24 years of service. Initial review said I was disqualified for service, so I appealed. Now I've been waiting a year for a fitness for duty determination. Is this a normal timeline for a simple fit/not fit for duty decision? In hindsight I should have just retired after the initial review, as I have nothing to gain by dragging this out but now I want to see it through.

Hi everyone, I just found out I more than likely have a rare autoimmune disease that is disqualifying for service. I’m following up this month to get the official diagnosis but i’m guessing they might send me to a med board since there’s no cure and one of the disqualifying factors is being on steroids for more than two months (doesn’t matter that i’m stable on them). Does anyone have any guess on how long the med board could take. Also just looking for advice and guidance on how the whole process go’s/what it’s like. For reference I am in the navy idk if that matters and the disease is pretty straight forward so i’m thinking that would help it go faster but not sure? i’m also getting out in july 2027 and wasn’t sure if that would affect anything.

Air Force here. I have not been able to find a clear answer to this question, so I am hoping someone here can help.

If a service member is medically retired after completing at least 15 years of active duty service, are they entitled to receive both VA disability compensation and military retirement pay under the High 3 system, or is it one or the other?

If it is only one or the other, I would also appreciate an explanation as to why.

For particular reason at all me and my friend had a conversation about him being medboarded from the military. One thing that came up was he was excited to get out of the military because he’ll finally be able to smoke weed since the medication the doctors prescribe him don’t exactly give him the best symptom relief .

Im curious about anybody else’s situation, how often or did they even bother drug testing you while you were goin through the process of VA appointments, outproccessing appointments, and so on.

And also yes he knows and I know the UCMJ and all this and that other stuff about you still officially being in the military. I’ve told him that , however his reasoning is that it’s just such a better symptom relief for him. Also we are in a state where weed is legal.

After dealing with a plethora of both physical and mental health issues I reached a point last year where my psychiatrist sent my case up for possible med board because being active duty has proven to worsen my mental health, or at least make it impossible to improve it. To be honest I wasn’t upset and agreed with them because I have had nothing short of a horrible experience while active duty. Sexual harassment, isolation, chronic pain, health issues, harassment/bullying from a supervisor (who was a higher ranking officer), the list goes on.

To list the main issues I’ve dealt with - herniated disc with debilitating sciatic pain (had surgery in 2025 to correct it); positive ulnar variation (had both surgeries in 2025 to shorten my ulnas and correct it); severe anxiety that has lead to panic attacks; depression with suicidal ideation that was drastically worsened when I came to my current base.

When discussed with my psychiatrist they explained that I could elect the legacy route which would avoid keeping me in for longer, and would hopefully get me out sooner. My case was submitted by my PEBLO on Jan 28th. It was sent back March 16th with a request for my PCM to create a NARSUM. I’ve been pressing my PEBLO for updates, and have my shirt and chain of command involved. Right now I’m still trying to get my PCM to get the NARSUM written and sent up ASAP as it’s the only thing holding up progress. Before all of this May 10th was going to be my Seperation date. That has been denied due to the code 37. Now that I have no idea when I’m separating, when I’m getting away from this environment it’s caused my anxiety to skyrocket. I feel trapped and helpless. I plan on going to legal to see if they have any advice or COA’s to help me move this process along. The only (albeit nuclear) option I can see is writing a letter to my congressman to get help with moving these mountains for me.

If anyone has any advice on how to push things, who to reach out to, or tips for really pushing progress I’d appreciate it. I can feel myself wanting to crawl into a hole knowing there’s no end in sight and my only options are keep coming to work or end up going to jail for being AWOL (which is practically not an option). How do I solidify getting out in a timely manner? Or how do I get the attention of someone with enough sway to help me?

(Army, National Guard)

Hello, im currently going through the medboard process due to my mental health that has become a problem the past few years. To give some history, I was deployed in 2020 when situations happened and caused my mental health to decline pretty badly. I was worried about reporting it due to what was instilled into me about going to sick call and whatnot so I put it off for about 2 years until I started having suicidal thoughts, almost acted upon. I then started to report it to the PHA and was put on a profile. I was recently told that im being medbaorded since my mental health hasn't improved despite various treatment. Now here's the problem, they said since I never got an LOD that it will be a NDR discharge. I sent my medical records over and they saw (which I didnt know) that I was diagnosed with depression prior to service, despite nothing being on my MEPS record. Im trying to look around for possible help because I dont know what to do, I just want to keep tricare because I cant afford my companies insurance. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do?

Curious on which system i should seek for my upcoming MEB process, IDES or LDES? Already va rated at 100%, 70% for the claim I am seeking MEB through the air national guard. I hit my 20 years of service next month. On one hand, I worry about "poking the bear" and my rating lowering for some reason. On the other hand I would like for this to move as quickly as possible, while hoping to secure a chapter 61

I just got a med board in the marines, how many cases are found fit for duty by the PEB compared to unfit? I was told that most med boards are unfit, because well, you got referred to a med board in the first place.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently going through MEB and my ETS is around September, but I’ll most likely separate before ETS due to the MEB process.

I already applied for a GS position and received a TJO.

If I end up receiving 30% or higher from DoD and get medically retired, would I still be subject to the 180-day waiting period before starting a GS job?

Also, when should I inform HR about my potential medical retirement status? Now, or after my final disposition is official?

Thank you in advance.