PEB & VA Reference
Military Disability Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the terms that determine your rating, your pay, and your future. Use the letter index to jump to any term.
A
ABFM
- Acronym for the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR). Commonly used shorthand in Army disability proceedings when referring to the board that can correct errors or injustices in Army records, including PEB findings.
ABCMR
- Army Board for Correction of Military Records. A civilian board that reviews applications from Army soldiers and veterans seeking correction of errors or injustices in their military records, including disability ratings assigned by a PEB. Applications must generally be filed within three years of discovering the error.
ADME
- Active Duty Medical Extension. A status that allows a service member whose enlistment or service obligation has expired to remain on active duty for the purpose of completing a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) or Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) process.
B
Bilateral Factor
- A VA calculation adjustment applied when a veteran has service-connected disabilities affecting both paired extremities (both arms, both legs, both ears, or both eyes). The combined rating for the bilateral conditions is increased by 10% before being combined with other ratings, reflecting the greater functional impact of bilateral impairment.
BCMR
- Board for Correction of Military Records. Each military branch has its own BCMR (e.g., ABCMR for Army, BCNR for Navy/Marine Corps, AFBCMR for Air Force). These civilian boards can correct errors or injustices in service records, including upgrading disability ratings or changing a separation to a retirement.
BCNR
- Board for Correction of Naval Records. The civilian board that reviews applications from Navy and Marine Corps members and veterans seeking correction of errors or injustices in their records, including PEB disability determinations.
C
Combined Rating
- The VA disability percentage calculated using the 'whole person' method rather than simple addition. The highest rating is applied first, reducing the remaining whole person. Each subsequent rating is applied to what remains. The result is rounded to the nearest 10%. For example, 50% + 30% = 65% raw, which rounds to 70% — not 80%.
CRDP
- Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay. A program that allows military retirees with a VA disability rating of 50% or higher to receive both their full military retirement pay and their full VA disability compensation without offset. CRDP is taxable, unlike VA disability compensation.
CRSC
- Combat-Related Special Compensation. Tax-free monthly pay for military retirees whose disabilities are determined to be combat-related. CRSC allows eligible retirees to recover some or all of the VA offset that would otherwise reduce their retirement pay. Unlike CRDP, CRSC is not automatic — the service member must apply to their branch.
D
DFAS
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The federal agency that processes military pay, including retirement pay, disability severance pay, and CRSC/CRDP payments. DFAS implements PEB final decisions and VA offset calculations.
DoD
- Department of Defense. The federal department that oversees all military branches and administers the military disability evaluation system (MEB/PEB process) under DoDI 1332.18 and related instructions.
DoDI 1332.18
- Department of Defense Instruction 1332.18 — Disability Evaluation System (DES). The primary DoD policy document governing the MEB/PEB process, fitness determinations, disability ratings, and separation or retirement decisions for all military branches.
F
FPEB
- Formal Physical Evaluation Board. A hearing-based PEB at which the service member may appear in person, present evidence, call witnesses, and be represented by counsel. An FPEB is typically requested after an IPEB issues findings the service member disagrees with. The FPEB panel consists of at least three members, including a medical officer and a judge advocate.
I
IDES
- Integrated Disability Evaluation System. A joint DoD-VA process in which the VA conducts the disability examination and assigns a proposed rating that the PEB uses to determine both fitness and compensation. IDES is designed to reduce duplication and speed up the transition from military service to VA benefits.
IPEB
- Informal Physical Evaluation Board. The first stage of the PEB process, conducted as a paper review without a personal appearance. The IPEB reviews the MEB referral and issues findings of fit or unfit, along with a proposed disability rating. The service member may accept, demand a formal hearing (FPEB), or submit a rebuttal.
L
LDES
- Legacy Disability Evaluation System. The pre-IDES military disability evaluation process in which the DoD conducted its own disability examination separate from the VA. Service members separated before the IDES rollout (approximately 2007–2012 depending on branch) went through LDES. Severance pay calculations for pre-2008 separations follow different rules.
LOD
- Line of Duty determination. An administrative finding that establishes whether a disease or injury was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. A favorable LOD determination is required for a condition to be considered for disability compensation. An unfavorable LOD finding (e.g., due to misconduct) can bar disability benefits.
M
MEB
- Medical Evaluation Board. The first stage of the military disability evaluation process. A panel of military physicians reviews the service member's medical records and determines whether the member's conditions meet medical retention standards. Conditions that do not meet retention standards are referred to a Physical Evaluation Board (PEB).
MOS/SPEC
- Military Occupational Specialty (Army) or Specialty Code (other branches). The job classification assigned to a service member. In a fitness determination, the PEB evaluates whether the service member can perform the duties of their MOS/SPEC. A finding of unfit means the member cannot perform those duties due to a qualifying disability.
N
NARSUM
- Narrative Summary. The medical document prepared by the treating physician that summarizes the service member's medical history, diagnoses, and functional limitations. The NARSUM is the primary medical evidence reviewed by the MEB and PEB. A well-written NARSUM that accurately captures functional limitations is critical to a favorable outcome.
P
PEB
- Physical Evaluation Board. The administrative body that determines whether a service member is fit for continued military duty and, if unfit, assigns a disability rating and determines the appropriate separation or retirement benefit. Each branch has its own PEB (e.g., Army PEB at Fort Sam Houston, Navy PEB in Washington, D.C.).
PDRL
- Permanent Disability Retired List. A status for service members who are found unfit with a stable disability rated at 30% or higher (or with 20+ years of service). PDRL retirees receive permanent monthly disability retirement pay and are not subject to periodic reevaluation, unlike TDRL.
PFT/PRT
- Physical Fitness Test / Physical Readiness Test. Standardized fitness assessments required by each military branch. Repeated failures can trigger administrative separation proceedings. However, if the failures are caused by a service-connected medical condition, the member may be entitled to a medical evaluation rather than administrative separation.
S
SAFPC
- Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council. The Air Force appellate body that reviews PEB findings after a Formal PEB. The SAFPC can affirm, modify, or reverse the FPEB's findings. It is the final administrative review within the Air Force disability system before a service member must seek relief from the AFBCMR or federal court.
Severance Pay
- Disability Severance Pay. A one-time lump-sum payment made to service members who are found unfit with a disability rated below 30% and who have fewer than 20 years of service. Calculated as 2 × base pay × years of service (minimum 3, maximum 19). Combat-related disabilities are exempt from federal income tax withholding. VA disability compensation is offset (recouped) until the severance amount is recovered.
T
TDIU
- Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability. A VA benefit that pays a veteran at the 100% disability rate even if their combined rating is below 100%, provided the veteran cannot secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities. Generally requires a single disability rated at 60%+ or multiple disabilities with a combined rating of 70%+ (with at least one at 40%+).
TDRL
- Temporary Disability Retired List. A status for service members whose disability is not yet stable enough for a permanent rating. TDRL retirees receive temporary retirement pay (minimum 50% of base pay) and are subject to periodic reevaluation every 18 months. TDRL status cannot exceed 5 years (3 years for conditions rated below 30%). At the end of TDRL, the member is either permanently retired, separated with severance pay, or returned to duty.
TDRL Periodic Exam
- A medical examination required every 18 months for service members on the Temporary Disability Retired List. The exam assesses whether the condition has stabilized, improved, or worsened. The results are reviewed by a PEB, which may increase, decrease, or maintain the disability rating — or find the member fit for return to duty. Failing to report for a TDRL exam can result in removal from the retired list.
V
VA Offset
- The reduction in military retirement pay that occurs when a retiree also receives VA disability compensation. Under 10 U.S.C. § 5305, military retirement pay is reduced dollar-for-dollar by the amount of VA compensation received, unless the retiree qualifies for CRDP or CRSC. The offset is sometimes called the 'VA waiver' because the retiree waives an equivalent amount of retirement pay.
VA Rating
- The disability percentage assigned by the Department of Veterans Affairs to a service-connected condition, based on the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD / 38 C.F.R. Part 4). VA ratings run from 0% to 100% in 10% increments for most conditions. The VA rating is separate from the DoD/PEB rating, though in IDES cases the VA proposed rating is used by the PEB.
VASRD
- VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The regulatory framework (38 C.F.R. Part 4) that lists diagnostic codes and rating criteria for thousands of medical conditions. Both the VA and the DoD (in IDES cases) use the VASRD to assign disability percentages. The VASRD was substantially revised for musculoskeletal conditions in 2021.
W
Whole Person Method
- The VA's mathematical approach to combining multiple disability ratings. Rather than adding percentages, each rating is applied to the remaining 'whole person.' For example: a 50% rating leaves 50% remaining; a 30% rating applied to that 50% takes 15%, leaving 35% remaining; the combined disability is 65%, which rounds to 70%. This method always produces a combined rating lower than the arithmetic sum.
#
38 C.F.R. Part 4
- The section of the Code of Federal Regulations that contains the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). It establishes the diagnostic codes, rating criteria, and general rating formulas used to assign disability percentages for service-connected conditions. Familiarity with the applicable diagnostic code is essential for challenging an inadequate VA or PEB rating.
10 U.S.C. § 1201
- The federal statute authorizing permanent disability retirement for service members found unfit with a disability rated at 30% or higher (or with 20+ years of service). Retirement under § 1201 places the member on the Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL) and entitles them to monthly disability retirement pay.
10 U.S.C. § 1212
- The federal statute governing disability severance pay for service members found unfit with a disability rated below 30% and fewer than 20 years of service. The formula is 2 × monthly base pay × years of service (minimum 3, maximum 19). VA disability compensation is recouped from future VA payments until the severance amount is recovered.
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