The United States Army Physical Disability Agency (USAPDA) manages the Army’s Physical Disability Evaluation System (PDES) and acts on behalf of the Secretary of the Army. The PDES is used to determine the fitness and applicable disability benefits of Soldiers with duty related impairments. The PDES includes the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) and the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB).
When a treating physician believes the Soldier is unable to perform full military duty or is unlikely to be able to do so within a reasonable period of time (normally 12 months), the Soldier is referred to a MEB at the MTF where treatment is being provided. The MEB is an informal process that documents the full clinical information of all medical conditions the Soldier manifests to determine whether each condition meets medical retention standards. The MEB determines whether or not the Soldier meets retention standards; the PEB makes the fitness determination.
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