Army PEB Representation
Army Physical Evaluation Board Attorney
The Army PEB determines whether you receive disability retirement or a one-time severance check. Attorney Jack Gately has represented Army soldiers through the IDES and legacy PEB process for over 25 years.
How the Army PEB Process Works
When an Army soldier is referred to the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), the case enters the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) — a joint DOD/VA process that evaluates your unfitting conditions and assigns a disability rating. The Physical Evaluation Board then reviews the MEB findings and issues a determination: fit for duty, unfit with disability retirement, or unfit with severance pay.
The Army PEB is conducted at the Physical Evaluation Board located at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Whether your case is handled as an Informal PEB (paper review) or a Formal PEB (in-person hearing), the decisions made at this stage will define your financial future. A combined rating of 30% or more — or 20 years of qualifying service — means lifetime disability retirement pay, TRICARE, and full military benefits. Below 30%, you receive only a one-time severance payment.
Free Resource
How to Win Your Army IDES Case
Attorney Gately's 12-step guide walks you through every stage of the Army IDES process — from your first PEBLO meeting through USAPDA appeals — with tips and action steps at each stage.
Army-Specific PEB Issues Attorney Gately Handles
IDES vs. Legacy System Navigation
Most active-duty Army soldiers go through IDES, but some cases still proceed under the legacy system. Attorney Gately knows both processes and ensures your case is handled correctly under the applicable rules.
NARSUM Rebuttals
The MEB Narrative Summary is the foundation of your case. If it understates your condition or omits ratable diagnoses, your rating will suffer. We review your NARSUM and prepare a detailed rebuttal with supporting medical evidence.
VA Rating Discrepancies
In IDES, the VA proposes a disability rating that the Army PEB is supposed to adopt. When the Army departs from the VA rating — or when the VA rating itself is too low — we challenge it.
TDRL Placement and Periodic Reviews
Soldiers placed on the Temporary Disability Retirement List face periodic re-evaluations. We represent soldiers at TDRL reviews to protect their permanent retirement status.
Formal PEB Hearing Representation
At the Formal PEB, you have the right to appear with counsel, present evidence, and make legal arguments. We prepare your case thoroughly and advocate aggressively on your behalf before the board.
What to Expect: Army IDES Timeline
MEB Referral
Your treating physician refers your case to the MEB when your condition may prevent you from meeting Army retention standards. The MEB documents your conditions in the NARSUM.
VA Examination & Rating
The VA conducts a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam and proposes a disability rating for each unfitting condition. This rating drives your eventual PEB determination.
Informal PEB
The PEB reviews your MEB packet and VA rating and issues a written determination. You may accept, rebut, or demand a Formal PEB — a decision that should never be made without legal counsel.
Formal PEB (if requested)
You appear before the board with your attorney. We present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and argue for the rating and disposition you deserve.
Final Disposition
The PEB issues a final determination. If unfavorable, appeal options include the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) and the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR).
Army PEB Resources
In-depth articles on every stage of the Army disability evaluation process.
- DA Form 199: 10 Things Every Soldier Should Check Before Signing Army PEB Findings
- Army Formal PEB: What Happens at the Hearing and How to Prepare
- Army NARSUM and DA Form 3947: What to Challenge Before Your Case Goes to the PEB
- Army PEB 20% vs. 30%: When Disability Separation Becomes Medical Retirement
- Army National Guard and Reserve MEB/PEB Cases After the 2026 OSC Cuts
More Army Reading
Army Soldier Facing a PEB? Call Before You Sign Anything.
The decisions you make in the next few days — whether to accept the IPEB findings, demand a Formal PEB, or rebut the NARSUM — can affect your benefits for the rest of your life. Call for a free consultation first.
757-481-0772Request a Free Consultation