Army PEB Guide
How to Win Your Army IDES Case
A step-by-step guide to the Army Integrated Disability Evaluation System — from MEB referral through final disposition. Written by attorney John B. Gately.
Download Free PDF GuideWhat Every Army Soldier Needs to Know About the IDES
The Army Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) is a joint DOD/VA process that evaluates whether a soldier can continue to serve and, if not, determines the disability rating that drives their retirement or separation pay. The stakes are enormous: a combined rating of 30% or more means lifetime disability retirement, TRICARE, and full military benefits. Below 30%, you receive only a one-time severance payment.
Most soldiers enter the IDES without understanding how the process works, what rights they have, or how the decisions made in the first few weeks will shape every outcome that follows. This guide is designed to change that.
The Army IDES Process — Step by Step
Step 1: The MEB Referral
The process begins when your treating physician determines that your medical condition may prevent you from meeting Army retention standards. A referral is made to the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), which documents your conditions in a Narrative Summary (NARSUM). The NARSUM is the single most important document in your case — it defines which conditions are evaluated, how they are described, and whether they are found to be disqualifying. Errors and omissions in the NARSUM are common and can be challenged through a formal rebuttal.
Step 2: VA Examination and Rating Proposal
Once the MEB is complete, the VA conducts Compensation & Pension (C&P) examinations for each condition listed in the NARSUM. The VA then proposes a disability rating using the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). In the IDES, the Army PEB is supposed to adopt the VA's proposed ratings — but departures happen, and the VA rating itself is often too low. Both the C&P exam quality and the proposed rating can be challenged.
Step 3: The Informal PEB
The Physical Evaluation Board at Fort Sam Houston reviews your MEB packet and VA rating and issues a written determination: fit for duty, unfit with disability retirement, or unfit with severance pay. You have three options: accept the findings, submit a written rebuttal, or demand a Formal PEB hearing. This decision should never be made without legal counsel. Accepting an unfavorable IPEB finding waives your right to a hearing and locks in a result that may be wrong.
Step 4: The Formal PEB Hearing
If you demand a Formal PEB, you appear before a three-officer board with your attorney. You can present evidence, call witnesses, cross-examine the government's witnesses, and make legal arguments. The Formal PEB is your best opportunity to challenge an unfavorable rating or disposition before it becomes final. Attorney Gately has represented Army soldiers at Formal PEB hearings for over 25 years.
Step 5: Final Disposition and Appeals
After the Formal PEB, the board issues a final determination. If the result is still unfavorable, you have appeal options including the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) and the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR). These post-separation remedies can correct improper ratings and change a separation to a retirement — but they are harder to win than a well-prepared PEB hearing.
Common Army IDES Issues Attorney Gately Handles
NARSUM Errors and Omissions
The NARSUM understates your condition, omits ratable diagnoses, or fails to document the full functional impact of your injuries. A detailed rebuttal with supporting medical evidence can correct the record before the PEB reviews your case.
VA Rating Too Low
The VA proposes a rating that does not reflect the true severity of your condition. We review the C&P exam, identify examiner errors, and challenge inadequate ratings through the IDES process.
Conditions Not Listed as Unfitting
The MEB lists only some of your conditions and omits others that also prevent you from meeting retention standards. Every unfitting condition must be rated — omissions directly reduce your combined rating.
IDES vs. Legacy System Confusion
Most active-duty Army soldiers go through IDES, but some cases still proceed under the legacy system. The procedural rules differ significantly, and errors in routing can affect your rights.
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 and prevent improper removal from the TDRL.
Download the Full 2026 Army IDES Guide
The complete guide covers every stage of the Army IDES process in detail — including NARSUM strategy, VA rating challenges, Formal PEB preparation, and post-separation appeals. Free to download.
2026 Edition · PDF
Download Free PDFArmy 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.
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