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Suggest a Feature →Medical Retirement vs. Medical Separation
General information, not legal advice. For legal issues, contact Trial Defense Service (TDS) or your Legal Assistance Office.
“If you get injured, they'll medically retire you with full benefits. The Army takes care of its own.”
Medical retirement (with ongoing pay and TRICARE) requires a disability rating of 30% or more. Below 30%, you get medical separation with a one-time severance payment. The difference in lifetime benefits is enormous — hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Medical Retirement (30%+ Rating)
If the military disability evaluation system rates you at 30% or higher, you are medically retired. This comes with:
- Retirement pay: Based on years of service or disability percentage, whichever is more
- TRICARE for life: You and your dependents retain TRICARE coverage
- Commissary and exchange access
- VA disability compensation (concurrent receipt rules apply)
- Access to military installations and services
Medical Separation (Below 30%)
If you're rated below 30%, you're medically separated with:
- Disability severance pay: A one-time lump sum, calculated as 2 x base pay x years of service (capped at 19 years)
- 180 days of TAMP TRICARE (then you're on your own for military healthcare)
- VA disability benefits (separate from military rating — you should file with the VA too)
The Math That Matters
Consider an E-5 with 8 years of service and base pay of $3,500/month:
Medical retirement at 30%: Retirement pay of ~$1,050/month for life, plus TRICARE for life. Over a 40-year remaining lifespan, that's approximately $500,000+ in retirement pay alone, plus hundreds of thousands in healthcare value.
Medical separation at 20%: Severance pay of 2 x $3,500 x 8 = $56,000 (one-time, taxable). Then you're done.
The difference between 20% and 30% is potentially half a million dollars in lifetime benefits.
The IDES Process
The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) determines your fitness and rating:
1. Referral: Your provider refers you to the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) 2. MEB: Reviews your medical conditions and determines if they meet retention standards 3. PEB (Physical Evaluation Board): Assigns a disability rating and determines fitness 4. VA Examination: The VA also examines you and assigns a separate rating
Your Rights in IDES
- You can submit evidence and documentation
- You can have a PEBLO (Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer) assist you
- You can consult with a JAG attorney at no cost
- You can appeal the PEB findings
- You can request a formal (in-person) hearing before the PEB
How To Protect Yourself
1. Document everything: Every medical visit, every complaint, every treatment 2. Get a lawyer: Contact your installation's legal assistance office or a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) 3. Don't minimize symptoms to medical providers 4. File with the VA separately: The VA rating is independent of the military rating and often higher 5. Appeal if you disagree: The first rating is not final
VA Rating vs. Military Rating
Your VA disability rating is separate from your military disability rating. It's possible to be medically separated at 20% by the military but rated at 80% by the VA. The VA rating determines your VA benefits; the military rating determines retirement vs. separation. Both matter.
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Contact your installation's Trial Defense Service (TDS) for UCMJ matters, or Legal Assistance Office for general legal issues. These services are free for active duty service members.