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1 Department of Defense manual NUMBER , Volume 2 USD(P&R) SUBJECT: Disability Evaluation System (DES) manual : Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) References: See Enclosure 1 1. PURPOSE. a. manual . This manual is composed of several volumes, each containing its own purpose. The purpose of the overall manual , in accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (Reference (a)), is to implement policy, assign responsibilities, and provide procedures for the DES pursuant to DoD Instruction (DoD I) (Reference (b)).

2 B. Volume. This volume implements policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for using the IDES process to refer, evaluate, and return to duty, separate, or retire Service members for disability pursuant to Title 10, United States Code (Reference (c)). 2. APPLICABILITY. This volume applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman ofthe Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department ofDefense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the DoD.

3 3. POLICY. It is DoD policy in accordance with Reference (b) that the DES must be used for determining fitness for duty as well as determining return to duty, separation, or retirement of Service members because of disability. In accordance with Reference (c), the applicable standards for all determinations related to disability evaluation must be consistently and equitably applied to all Service members, both Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC). 4. RESPONSIBILITIES. See Enclosure 2. 5. PROCEDURES. See Enclosures 3 through 9.

4 DoDM 6. RELEASABILITY. Unlimited. This volume is approved for public release and is available on the Internet from the DoD Issuances Website at 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This volume: a. Is effective upon its publication to the DoD Issuances Website. b. Must be reissued, cancelled, or certified current within 5 years of its publication to be considered current in accordance with DoDI (Reference (d)). c. Will expire effective [10 YEARS FROM PUBLICATION DATE-Directives Division will insert date upon posting to the website] and be removed from the DoD Issuances Website if it hasn't been reissued or cancelled in accordance with Reference (d).

5 Enclosures 1. References 2. Responsibilities 3. IDES Process 4. IDES Entity Procedures 5. TDRL Procedures 6. IDES Case Tracking Procedures 7. IDES Timeliness Goals 8. IDES Timeline 9. Documentation ofMEB Results Glossary .. Jf/!:u. ~ght Cllj~~; tJ:~ of Defense for Personnel and Readiness 2 DoDM TABLE OF CONTENTS ENCLOSURE 1: REFERENCES .. 5 ENCLOSURE 2: RESPONSIBILITIES .. 6 ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF Defense FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS (ASD(HA)) .. 6 ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF Defense FOR RESERVE AFFAIRS (ASD(RA)) .. 6 SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS.

6 ? ENCLOSURE 3: IDES PROCESS .. 10 GENERAL .. 10 PROCESS STEPS .. 10 ENCLOSURE 4: IDES ENTITY PROCEDURES .. 13 APPENDIXES 1. SERVICE MEMBER PROCEDURES .. 14 2. DoD MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER PROCEDURES ..17 3. PATIENT ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES .. 18 4. PEBLO PROCEDURES .. 19 5. MEB CONVENING AUTHORITY PROCEDURES .. 24 6. MSC PROCEDURES .. ~ .. 25 7. COMMANDER PROCEDURES .. 27 8. QUALIFIED EXAMINER PROCEDURES .. 28 9. PEB ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES .. 29 10. IPEB AND FPEB PROCEDURES ..31 11. D-RAS PROCEDURES .. 32 12. MILITARY Department PROCEDURES.

7 34 ENCLOSURE 5: TDRL PROCEDURES .. 36 PEB INITIAL ADJUDICATION .. 36 D-RAS ADJUDICATION .. 36 IPEB DISPOSITION .. 36 TDRL REEVALUATION .. 36 LEGAL REPRESENTATION .. 36 ENCLOSURE 6: IDES CASE TRACKING PROCEDURES .. 37 ENCLOSURE 7: IDES TIMELINESS GOALS .. 38 GENERAL .. 38 AC .. 38 3 CONTENTS DoDM RC .. 40 TDRL TIMELINESS GOALS .. 42 ENCLOSURE 8: IDES TIMELINE .. 43 ENCLOSURE 9: DOCUMENTATION OF MEB RESULTS ..44 GLOSSARY .. 45 PART I: ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ..45 PART II: DEFINITIONS .. 46 FIGURE IDES Timeline.

8 43 4 CONTENTS DoDM ENCLOSURE 1 REFERENCES (a) DoD Directive , "Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD(HA))," September 30,2013 (b) DoD Instruction , "Disability Evaluation System," TBD (c) Title 10, United States Code (d) DoD Instruction, , "DoD Directives Program," September 26, 2012, as amended (e) DoD Instruction , "Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services," April28, 2010, as amended (f) DoD , " Department of Defense Privacy Program," May 14, 2007 (g) Title 38, Code ofFederal Regulations (h) Public Law 106-475, "Veterans Claims Assistance Act of2000," November 9, 2000 (i) Section 7332 ofTitle 38, United States Code (j) Joint Publication 1-02, " Department of Defense Dictionary ofMilitary and Associated Terms," current edition (k) DoD , "DoD Health Information Privacy Regulation," January 24,2003 5 ENCLOSURE 1 DoDM ENCLOSURE2 RESPONSIBILITIES 1.

9 ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF Defense FOR HEALTH AFFAIRS (ASD(HA)). Under the authority, direction, and control of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)), the ASD(HA): a. Oversees the development and execution of the policies, and procedures, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, for the IDES, as specified in References (b) and (c) and in this manual . b. Determines IDES disability examination funding requirements in coordination with the Military Departments and the Department ofVeterans Affairs (VA), and tracks IDES disability examination funding expenditures.

10 C. Recommends to the USD(P&R), in coordination with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Warrior Care Policy (DASD(WCP)); Secretaries of the Military Departments; Under Secretary for Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA); and Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), changes in IDES policy, procedures, resources, and legislation. These recommendations ensure Service members who are referred to the IDES receive a single set of disability examinations performed to VA standards by qualified disability examiners.