PREPARING FOR THE FIRST STEP IN DETERMINING VA DISABILITY
Many cases of service-connected disability begin while the service member is still on active duty. When a service member suffers a debilitating injury or develops a disease while serving actively in the military, he or she will go through a medical evaluation process to determine whether or not they can return to active service. If the results of the evaluation establish an inability to return to active duty, the service member may be honorably discharged and can file for veterans disability.
The evaluation process mentioned above is conducted by physical evaluation boards (PEBs). When the service member is first injured, a medical evaluation board (MEB) will first determine if he or she can return to their military occupational specialty (MOS). If the service member cannot return to their MOS, it is the job of a PEB to determine whether or not the service member can return to any form of active duty, at all. PEBs determine a service member’s fitness or unfitness, their eligibility for VA disability, their disability rating, and whether or not the injury or disease was service-related.
HOW A PEB CAN AFFECT YOUR VA DISABILITY BENEFITS
When a PEB provides a disability rating for a service member’s service-related injury or illness, it can set the course for the service member’s future. If the disability rating is too low, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may not offer the benefits that the service member deserves. In cases such as this, it is wise to seek the counsel of a lawyer. It is important to understand that the determinations made by the PEB will set the floor for the VA ratings. For more information on veterans benefits, browse through the additional pages on this VA disability informative website.