Reviews Can Lead to Upgrades
(This article appeared in the November/December 2012 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)
Sue Carney, Director Human Relations Dept.
Veterans who believe they received an inaccurate disability rating may be eligible to have their award reviewed by the Physical Disability Board of Review. The PDBR was created to address inconsistencies in disability ratings among service branches to ensure accuracy and fairness. The board reviews cases and makes recommendations to the applicant’s service secretary, who is responsible for making the final decision on whether the original disability determination should be changed.
As of last year, nearly 50 percent of the cases reviewed by the PDBR found the applicant was eligible for disability retirement and entitled to retroactive retirement pay. As a result, veterans and their dependents also became eligible for TRICARE health coverage and could seek reimbursement for unpaid medical bills. Survivor benefits were extended to eligible dependents — provided the premiums were paid — and veterans and their families became qualified to enjoy the rights and privileges that are available to retired veterans from their service branch, e.g. commissary, exchange, and space-available recreation and travel.
To meet the requirements for review, a veteran must have been permanently separated due to disability from the U.S. military between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2009; had a combined disability rating of less than 30 percent at the time of separation, and been found ineligible for military service retirement.
Former Reserve members with greater than 20 years of total federal military service but fewer than 20 years of active duty who meet the criteria are also eligible to apply.
If a veteran is deceased or incapacitated, their spouse or next of kin may apply. The PDBR conducts a document review on a first-come, first-eligible basis. There are no provisions for personal appearances. Disability ratings cannot be lowered as a result of the review. Currently there are no time limits or cut-offs to apply. Approximately 77,000 veterans meet the criteria for a PDBR review. To date, less than 5 percent have applied. Veterans interested in seeking a PDRB review should complete and submit DD Form 294 and VA Form 3288.
To learn more, contact a veterans’ organization in your area to speak with a Veterans Service Officer, or visit the Department of Defense Military Health System Web page atwww.health.mil. PDRB will be listed under MHS Organizations /Offices and Programs. Our service members have left their families and homes, serving multiple deployments, protecting our nation’s interests at home and abroad. Members are encouraged to spread the word, so our veterans can seek the benefits they have earned through their sacrifice and service.
VA is Making a Connection
Make the Connection, is a public awareness campaign launched by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that connects veterans, their friends and family members with information, resources and solutions to issues affecting their lives.
The campaign offers VA-approved treatment and resources. It also provides hundreds of video testimonials from veterans who overcame various conditions and traumas, and offers information on how to recognize symptoms and where to seek treatment.
Make the Connection offers assistance on improving relationships with friends and loved ones, preparing for deployment and transitioning from service, and dealing with the death of family and friends. It also offers assistance with job and employment issues, financial and legal matters, homelessness, physical injuries, chronic pain, spiritual concerns, retirement and aging, substance and alcohol abuse, anxiety, depression, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder and many other mental and physical health issues that afflict veterans.
Make the Connection is the VA’s most comprehensive web- based resource to date. It connects veterans in need with veterans who understand. It allows veterans to “connect” with tools, conduct self-assessments, and obtain useful information from the comfort of their home — without the hassle that often accompanies VA appointments. Make the Connection assists veterans in managing the issues they face and helps improve their lives.
Help us make the connection with our veterans, their friends and family. Please post, distribute, and publish this information.