For members projected to remain incapacitated for more than 6 months, to what should the CO or OIC refer the case?

• A. Physical Disability Evaluation System (PDES/IDES)
• B. Medical Review Board
• C. VA disability evaluation
• D. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Answer: (A)

When a service member is expected to be incapacitated for more than six months, the command should initiate the Disability Evaluation System process. This system provides a formal, standardized medical review to determine if the member is fit for continued duty or if medical retirement is appropriate. It coordinates medical findings with evaluation and rating steps, and it links to benefits through the VA as needed when retirement or separation with disability is determined.

Referencing the PDES/IDES is the best choice because it is specifically designed to handle long-term medical incapacity and decide whether a member should remain on active duty, be separated, or retire due to disability. The Medical Review Board and the VA disability evaluation operate in related but different parts of the process: MRB is a more specialized medical review step that may occur within the PDES pathway, but it isn’t the primary route for initial handling. VA disability evaluation occurs after separation or retirement and serves as the compensation side, not the command’s immediate duty to assess fitness for duty. SSDI is a civilian Social Security program and isn’t used in determining military fitness or entitlement to medical retirement.