Urgent Notice to All Navy Personnel on the TDRL

Over the past 12 months, I have observed a disturbing trend in the Navy’s approach to TDRL review cases.  Before ordering a TDRL re-evaluation exam, the PEB staff will access your VA records online to see if your TDRL conditions were recently reevaluated by the VA. If this evaluation by the VA was performed within the past 18 months, the Navy PEB can opt to use this exam instead of ordering a TDRL exam by Navy providers.

While this approach may benefit members whose ratings for their TDRL conditions are continued by the VA, there are many service members who receive VA rating decisions proposing to lower the ratings assigned to their TDRL conditions.

Unfortunately, some of them do not appeal these rating reductions because these decisions did not lower their overall VA percentage. Then, they are surprised when the PEB issues a decision lowering the rating bases upon the VA decision. The lesson to be learned- be prepared for any VA C&P exams reevaluating your TDRL conditions and promptly appeal  any proposed reduction in your rating for any TDRL conditions.