Requesting a Special Review in USAF IDES Cases

If you are an Air Force service member contesting your IPEB findings, there is a little-known technique available to you in Section 3.26 of AFI 36-3212 to request a Special Review of your case.  To implement this technique, your counsel will need to file a notice of appearance and request a copy of the case file.  When you review it, your goal will be to determine whether pertinent records were not available to the IPEB or if there has been a significant change in your medical status since the case was initially sent for review, which may alter the IPEB’s recommended findings and disposition of your case.

This Special Review Request has to be initiated by your MTF Commander, so you and your counsel should prepare a detailed memorandum for the MTF Commander outlining why this request should be made. This memorandum should include as enclosures all of the medical documents supporting your request.  To see if you meet the criteria, you should discuss this approach with your counsel.