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. Last reviewed for legal accuracy: September 2026.
A
ABCMR
- Army Board for Correction of Military Records. The civilian board through which the Secretary of the Army considers applications to correct errors or remove injustices from Army military records. The ABCMR may address matters involving disability processing, PEB findings, retirement or separation status, discharge issues, promotions, and other personnel records. Applications generally must be filed within three years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice, but the ABCMR may excuse an untimely filing when it determines that doing so would be in the interest of justice.
ADME
- Active Duty Medical Extension. An Army administrative mechanism that may extend a Soldier's active-duty status when a medical condition incurred or aggravated in the line of duty requires treatment or evaluation beyond the Soldier's scheduled separation or retirement date. The term is primarily associated with Army medical-retention processing and should not be assumed to describe the procedures used by every military service.
B
Bilateral Factor
- A VA rating adjustment that may apply when a veteran has compensable disabilities affecting both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles. The qualifying disabilities are first combined, and 10 percent of that combined value is then added before further combination with other disability ratings. Under current 38 C.F.R. § 4.26, the bilateral factor does not apply to paired eyes or ears merely because both are affected, and VA must exclude a disability from the bilateral-factor calculation when doing so produces a higher overall combined evaluation.
BCMR
- Board for Correction of Military Records. A general term for the civilian administrative boards authorized under 10 U.S.C. § 1552 to correct military records when necessary to correct an error or remove an injustice. The Army uses the ABCMR; the Department of the Navy uses the BCNR for Navy and Marine Corps cases; and the Department of the Air Force uses the AFBCMR for Air Force and Space Force cases. Coast Guard records may also be corrected under § 1552 through procedures established by the Secretary of Homeland Security. These boards can provide relief involving disability processing, discharge status, retirement, pay, promotions, and other military-record issues.
BCNR
- Board for Correction of Naval Records. The civilian board through which the Secretary of the Navy considers applications from current and former Navy and Marine Corps members seeking correction of an error or removal of an injustice from their military records. BCNR cases may involve PEB and disability determinations, discharge characterization, retirement status, promotions, pay, and other personnel matters.
C
Combined Rating
- The overall VA disability percentage produced by combining multiple disability evaluations under VA's "whole person" method rather than simply adding them together. Each additional disability is applied to the portion of the person considered not already disabled. The resulting combined value is generally converted to the nearest degree divisible by 10. For example, ratings of 50% and 30% combine to 65%, which is converted to 70% rather than added to produce 80%. Special rules, including the bilateral factor, may affect the calculation.
CRDP
- Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP). A statutory program that allows certain military retirees with VA service-connected disability ratings of at least 50% to receive VA disability compensation while also receiving some or all of the military retired pay that would otherwise be waived. CRDP generally applies automatically when eligibility requirements are met. A Chapter 61 disability retiree generally must also have at least 20 years of qualifying service to be eligible for CRDP. CRDP is treated as retired pay and is generally taxable.
CRSC
- Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). A tax-free special compensation program for eligible military retirees who have VA-rated disabilities that their military service determines are combat-related. Qualifying disabilities may arise from armed conflict, hazardous service, an instrumentality of war, or conditions simulating war. An eligible retiree must generally be entitled to military retired pay, have at least a 10% VA disability rating, and apply to the appropriate military service for CRSC. CRSC may restore some or all of retired pay otherwise waived because of VA disability compensation. A retiree who qualifies for both CRDP and CRSC cannot receive both for the same month.
D
DFAS
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The Department of Defense agency responsible for administering many forms of military and retired pay, including military retired pay, disability retirement pay, disability severance-pay accounting, CRDP, and CRSC payments. DFAS implements the financial consequences of military and VA determinations but does not itself decide whether a service member is fit or unfit for duty or determine eligibility for CRSC.
DoD
- Department of Defense. The federal department responsible for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force and for establishing disability-evaluation policy applicable to DoD service members. The Coast Guard is an Armed Force but ordinarily operates under the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Defense, except when operating as a service in the Navy as provided by law.
DoDI 1332.18
- Department of Defense Instruction 1332.18 — Disability Evaluation System (DES). The principal DoD instruction establishing policy for determining whether a service member is fit for continued military duty because of disability and, when the member is unfit, whether the member will be separated or retired for disability. It establishes overarching requirements for both the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) and Legacy Disability Evaluation System (LDES) within the Department of Defense.
F
FPEB
- Formal Physical Evaluation Board. A formal PEB proceeding in which a service member may challenge an unfavorable disability determination, appear personally or through authorized means, present evidence and argument, and be represented by counsel. Formal-board procedures, composition, and available forms of evidence vary somewhat among the military departments. In IDES cases, an FPEB may decide disputed fitness issues and identify which conditions are unfitting, while VA disability percentages assigned to unfitting conditions are generally addressed through the VA rating-reconsideration process.
I
IDES
- Integrated Disability Evaluation System. The joint DoD-VA disability process used for most DoD service members referred for disability evaluation. The military department determines whether the member is fit or unfit for continued service, while VA evaluates claimed conditions and proposes disability ratings under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. If the PEB finds one or more conditions unfitting and compensable, the DoD uses the applicable VA rating for those unfitting conditions in determining the military disability disposition. VA separately establishes the veteran's VA disability compensation entitlement.
IPEB
- Informal Physical Evaluation Board. The initial PEB adjudication ordinarily conducted as a records review without a personal appearance by the service member. The IPEB determines whether the member is fit or unfit for continued military service and, when appropriate, identifies the unfitting and compensable conditions. In IDES cases, VA provides proposed disability ratings for the conditions referred for rating, and the PEB applies the appropriate VA ratings to conditions it determines are unfitting. A member who disagrees with the IPEB findings may have rights to request a Formal PEB, submit written matters, pursue VA rating reconsideration, or use other review procedures depending on the issue and service.
L
LDES
- Legacy Disability Evaluation System. A current DoD Disability Evaluation System process that operates separately from IDES. Under LDES, the military department evaluates fitness and assigns disability ratings for unfitting conditions using the VASRD without completing the integrated VA disability-claims process used in IDES. Although IDES is the normal DoD process, DoDI 1332.18 permits processing through LDES in authorized circumstances, including when the Secretary of the Military Department concerned approves a member's request for LDES or when another authorized exception applies. LDES should not be confused with merely the historical disability system that existed before IDES.
LOD
- Line of Duty (LOD) Determination. An administrative determination concerning whether an injury, illness, disease, or death occurred or was aggravated while a service member was in an authorized military duty status and whether misconduct or other disqualifying circumstances were involved. LOD determinations are particularly important for Reserve and National Guard members because entitlement to disability processing and benefits may depend on establishing the required connection to qualifying duty. The effect of an LOD determination depends on the member's component, duty status, facts of the case, and applicable law; a separate formal LOD determination is not universally required for every active-duty disability case.
M
MEB
- Medical Evaluation Board. A medical component of the Disability Evaluation System that documents and evaluates medical conditions that may prevent a service member from meeting applicable medical-retention standards. The MEB does not decide whether the member is legally "fit" or "unfit" for continued military service; that determination is made by the PEB. When appropriate, the MEB identifies conditions that fail retention standards and refers the case into the PEB process.
MOS / AFSC / NEC / NOOCS
- The service-specific codes that identify a military member's job, career field, or specialty. MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) is used by the Army and Marine Corps. AFSC (Air Force Specialty Code) is used by the Air Force and Space Force. NEC (Naval Enlisted Classification) identifies the specialty skills and qualifications of Navy enlisted personnel. NOOCS (Navy Officer Classification System) identifies the designators and additional qualification designators assigned to Navy officers. In a disability fitness determination, the PEB considers whether the member can reasonably perform the duties expected of their office, grade, rank, or rating in light of the member's medical limitations.
N
NARSUM
- Narrative Summary (NARSUM). A medical summary prepared as part of disability-evaluation processing that describes the service member's relevant medical history, diagnoses, treatment, prognosis, and the functional effects of the medical conditions being evaluated. The NARSUM helps the MEB and PEB understand the medical evidence and the member's limitations. Because functional impairment and its effect on military duties are central to disability evaluation, an accurate and complete NARSUM can be important evidence in a DES case.
P
PEB
- Physical Evaluation Board. The administrative body responsible for determining whether a service member is physically fit or unfit to reasonably perform the duties of the member's office, grade, rank, or rating because of disability. If the member is found unfit, the PEB identifies the unfitting and compensable conditions and determines the appropriate military disability disposition. In IDES cases, VA generally assigns the disability percentages for the unfitting conditions under the VASRD; the PEB applies those ratings in determining whether the member will be separated, temporarily retired, or permanently retired.
PDRL
- Permanent Disability Retired List. The status of a service member permanently retired for physical disability. Generally, a member whose qualifying disability is permanent and stable may be permanently retired when the disability is rated at least 30%, or when the member otherwise meets the statutory service requirement for disability retirement. A member on the PDRL receives disability retired pay and is not subject to the periodic disability examinations required for members on the TDRL.
PFT/PRT
- Physical Fitness Test / Physical Readiness Test. General terms for service-specific programs used to evaluate required physical fitness or readiness. The name and standards vary by military service. Medical conditions may affect a member's ability to participate in or pass required testing and may result in profiles, duty limitations, medical evaluation, or other action. A fitness-test failure caused by a medical condition does not, standing alone, establish either fitness or unfitness for purposes of the Disability Evaluation System.
S
SAFPC
- Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council (SAFPC). A Department of the Air Force review authority that, among other responsibilities, considers certain appeals and disability cases following Formal PEB proceedings. A service member who disagrees with an Air Force or Space Force FPEB fitness determination may be permitted to submit a written appeal to SAFPC under applicable Department of the Air Force procedures. SAFPC review is part of the administrative disability process and is distinct from a later application to the AFBCMR.
Severance Pay
- Disability Severance Pay. A lump-sum payment generally authorized when a service member is separated for a qualifying unfitting disability rated below 30% and does not qualify for disability retirement based on years of service. Under 10 U.S.C. § 1212, severance pay is generally calculated using twice the applicable monthly basic pay multiplied by years of service, subject to statutory rules. For calculation purposes, the minimum is ordinarily three years of service, but six years applies to qualifying disabilities incurred in a combat zone or during designated combat-related operations; the maximum is 19 years. VA ordinarily recoups disability severance pay from compensation payable for the same disability, but federal law provides an exception for qualifying combat-zone and combat-related-operation disability severance pay.
T
TDIU
- Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). A VA benefit that permits VA to pay compensation at the 100% rate when service-connected disabilities prevent a veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment, even though the veteran's schedular combined rating is less than 100%. Under the ordinary schedular criteria, eligibility generally requires either one disability rated at least 60%, or two or more disabilities with at least one rated 40% or more and a combined rating of at least 70%. VA may also consider unemployability on an extraschedular basis when the percentage requirements are not met.
TDRL
- Temporary Disability Retired List. A temporary disability-retirement status used when a service member is found unfit for duty because of a qualifying disability that is not yet determined to be permanent and stable. While on the TDRL, the member receives disability retired pay and remains subject to periodic medical examination and reevaluation. For members placed on the TDRL on or after January 1, 2017, federal law generally requires final disposition no later than three years after placement on the list. Older cases may be governed by the former five-year limit. A member may ultimately be permanently retired, separated, returned to duty, or otherwise disposed of as authorized by law based on the member's condition and rating at reevaluation.
TDRL Periodic Exam
- TDRL Periodic Examination. A medical examination used to determine whether the disability for which a member was placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List has changed and whether the member's condition has become permanent and stable. Under 10 U.S.C. § 1210, a TDRL member must receive a physical examination at least once every 18 months while remaining on the list. The subsequent disability determination may result in permanent disability retirement, separation, return to duty, or other action authorized by law. Failure to report for a properly noticed examination can result in termination of disability retired pay, subject to statutory protections when there was just cause for the failure to report.
V
VA Offset
- VA Offset / VA Waiver. The general reduction in military retired pay that occurs when a retiree elects to receive tax-free VA disability compensation and is not entitled to concurrent receipt of the same amount of retired pay. Under 38 U.S.C. §§ 5304–5305, a retiree ordinarily waives an amount of military retired pay equal to the VA compensation received. Eligible retirees may recover some or all of the waived retired pay through Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) or Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC).
VA Rating
- A disability evaluation assigned by the Department of Veterans Affairs under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), generally expressed in 10% increments from 0% through 100%. VA ratings are based on the severity of service-connected disabilities and are used to determine VA disability compensation. In IDES cases, VA provides proposed ratings, and the military department generally uses the VA percentage assigned to a condition that the PEB determines is unfitting and compensable. The overall VA combined rating may include conditions that the military does not find unfitting, so a veteran's VA combined rating and DoD disability rating may be different.
VASRD
- VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). The rating framework contained primarily in 38 C.F.R. Part 4 that establishes diagnostic codes, evaluation criteria, and general rating principles for disabilities. VA uses the VASRD to evaluate service-connected disabilities. The military departments are also required to use the VASRD when assigning disability percentages to compensable unfitting conditions, subject to the statutes and regulations governing the Disability Evaluation System.
W
Whole Person Method
- The method VA uses to combine multiple disability percentages on the principle that a person cannot be more than 100% disabled. Rather than simply adding percentages, each additional disability is applied to the portion of the person remaining after previously considered disabilities. For example, a 50% disability leaves 50% of the "whole person" unaffected; a subsequent 30% disability applied to that remaining 50% adds 15 percentage points, producing a combined value of 65%, which is then converted to 70%. The bilateral factor and other rating rules may affect the final calculation.
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38 C.F.R. Part 4
- 38 C.F.R. Part 4 — Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The portion of the Code of Federal Regulations containing the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), including diagnostic codes, evaluation criteria, and general principles used to determine disability percentages. VA uses Part 4 to rate service-connected disabilities, and the military disability system generally uses the VASRD to determine the percentage assigned to compensable unfitting conditions. The applicable diagnostic code, rating criteria, and general rating provisions can be important when challenging an erroneous disability evaluation.
10 U.S.C. § 1201
- 10 U.S.C. § 1201 — Permanent Disability Retirement. The principal federal statute authorizing permanent disability retirement for qualifying members on active duty for more than 30 days who are found unfit because of a permanent and stable physical disability. Among other statutory requirements, the member generally must have at least 20 years of service for disability-retirement purposes or have a qualifying disability rated at least 30% under the VASRD. Section 1201 also contains requirements concerning line of duty, misconduct, preexisting conditions, and the relationship of the disability to military service.
10 U.S.C. § 1212
- 10 U.S.C. § 1212 — Disability Severance Pay. The federal statute establishing how disability severance pay is calculated for service members separated for qualifying physical disability. The calculation generally uses twice the applicable monthly basic pay multiplied by years of service. For calculation purposes, the statute ordinarily provides a three-year minimum, a six-year minimum for qualifying disabilities incurred in a combat zone or during designated combat-related operations, and a maximum of 19 years. VA compensation attributable to the same disability is ordinarily subject to recoupment of disability severance pay, but § 1212 prohibits that deduction for qualifying combat-zone and designated combat-related-operation disability severance pay.
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