I went through the MEB approximately 10 years ago. Nobody materially told me what to expect in the army MEB process to include the VA and Social Security. I will be the first to admit I am not an expert on the MEB process, but I will try my best to illuminate what I know to paint a general picture which is significantly better than nothing at all. I can somewhat list the targets and the routes to take, but as I have said, I am not an expert especially considering we have different branches of service. Perhaps others who have this experience will chime in as well.

Why did I start this thread? I just talked to a buddy who went through an MEB and nobody told him to apply for Social Security Disability nor did anyone tell him that his wife my qualify for a monthly VA stipend under the VA Caregiver program. The problem is, from my perspective, the army did a poor job describing the MEB process to me; and those who had the experience took that institutional knowledge with them when they became civilians. I am a firm believer we need to take care of each other. My buddy might get another $3000/month total for Social Security Disability and the Caregiver program, but nobody told him until I called him.

I think I can paint the picture better than what you will see on your own. I might:
- Get more benefits for you.
- Save your marriage because I have seen many soldiers with PTSD experience marriages that crashed and burned rather quickly.
- Save you from some of the pitfalls in the MEB process. For example, ask for damn help when you need it.

Howdy,

Would love to learn a little more and get any advice from you, is there a good email I can reach you at?

Just to clarify, the MEB process is separate from the VA claims process. The MEB process determines your fitness for continued service. Basically to determine if you can still reasonably perform the duties of a sailor/soldier/airman/marine/coastie/guardian. The VA disability process is something every veteran should be taking advantage of before they separate. Ideally you want your VA evaluation done in the last 2-3 months before you go on terminal leave.

If you are medically separated from the military, you'll usually get some sort of compensation package to compensate you for an early termination of your contract/career. If you are medically retired, you'll get life long benefits. You can't double dip between military medical retirement benefits and VA disability benefits beyond 100% disability. But your VA claim can add additional benefits to your military medical retirement claim.

this is a crazy convoluted process, and it's really hard to get answers. That being said, take what I said above with a grain of salt. I tried looking into it in order to be able to better advise others. And while I think I have a better understanding, I'm still pretty confused myself.

There's a youtube channel started by an Aggie Navy doc I know that y'all should check out. Not specific to the MEB process but more so the VA claims process.

https://www.youtube.com/@thedisabilitydoctors9379