524 Hearings in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System

This is a fairly new development and we recently met with a client for his military-related disability case.  The Gentlemen had terribly injured knees and back and expressed his frustration with the military’s response to his medical concerns.

In the context of a non-duty related PEB (NDR), service members can obtain a second review of the line of duty determination. It is known as a 524 appeal and can be very valuable.  Based on staffing issues, 524 appeals may not be offered for much longer and appeals move slowly.

After a review of the entire MEB and PEB files, including the results of a formal board, our experienced adjudicator and retired Army Colonel, Army-experienced paralegals and lawyers, assessed the evidence regarding the line of duty LOD.

Often times the MEB and PEB will not recognize all of the relevant disabilities and may choose only one.  One condition may be found “unfit” while other conditions may be NDR and left off of the final disability pension rating.

Drilling Status and Title 32 Technicians

It is important to maintain an active drill status to facilitate retirement eligibility.  Litigating and challenging the line of duty determination for a back condition will take time.  Reservists should not jeopardize good standing with their units.

On staff, we have a medical doctor who is a licensed physiatrist or what is also known as Sports Medicine Doctor, a retired Colonel from Army Reserve who was a PEB adjudicator and Line of Duty point of contact for over a decade (LOD), a stable of retired JAG lawyers who have worked as adjudicators and with military personnel for decades and experienced military paralegals, one of whom is an Army Human Resources 27D and retired Sergeant First Class and another a military paralegal who retired last year.

You can visit CitizenSoldierLaw’s website and our team will review your intake at no charge.  Regrettably our lawyers are engaged with numerous clients and we will rarely be able to conduct a detailed review without a paid consultation.

As one respected lawyer describes the realities of the practice of law:  free advice is usually not very good and good advice is rarely free.