Any commissioned officer who exercises command authority over a service member. The term includes a service member designated in accordance with this Directive-type Memorandum to carry out any activity of a commanding officer.

Full-time duty in the active military service of the United States, including active duty or full-time training duty in the Reserve Component.  Also called AD. See also active duty for training; inactive duty training.  (JP 4-05)

A forum of VA and DOD senior leaders who work to remove barriers and challenges that impede collaborative efforts, assert and support mutually beneficial opportunities to improve business practices, ensure high quality cost-effective services for VA and DOD beneficiaries, and facilitate opportunities to improve resource utilization.

A U.S. Government attorney, representing the interests of the service member, who may be an assistant Staff Judge Advocate, General Schedule civilian employee, or contracted attorney paid for by the U.S. Government.

A determination by the physical evaluation board of a service member’s ability to reasonably perform the duties of his office, grade, rank, or rating.

Information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, either alone or when combined with other information that is linked or linkable to a specific individual.

Fundamental deductions, consistent with medical facts, that are so reasonable and logical as to create a reasonable assumption that they are correct.

The chronologic record of medical, dental, and mental health care received by service members during the course of their military career. It includes documentation of all outpatient appointments (i.e. without overnight admittance to a hospital, clinic, or treatment facility), as well as summaries of any inpatient care (Discharge Summaries) and care receiv...

The service member’s decision to accept or appeal the medical evaluation board or physical evaluation board findings.

A medical impairment, mental disease, or physical defect which is severe enough to interfere with the service member’s ability to adequately perform their duties, regardless of assignment or geographic location. A medical impairment, mental disease, or physical defect standing alone does not constitute a disability. The term includes mental disease,...

For service members entering the DES, the MEB conducts the medical evaluation on conditions that potentially affect the service member’s fitness for duty. The MEB documents the service member’s condition and medical history with a narrative summary, sometimes referred to as the MEB report. The MEB is composed of at least two members. At least ...

The joint DOD-VA process by which DOD determines whether ill or injured service members are fit for continued military service and DOD and VA determine appropriate benefits for Service members who are separated or retired for disability. In the IDES, the Service member receives a single set of physical disability examinations conducted according to VA exa...

The name (such as “Boatswain’s Mate”) prescribed for service members in an occupational field.

A briefing that consists of, at a minimum, PEBLOs, MSCs, and legal counsel, and establishes service member expectations, prepares service members for each stage of the DES process, and informs service members of what is expected of them during the DES process.

A senior medical officer, appointed by the Military Departments or DHA, who has detailed knowledge of standards of medical fitness, retention standards, and disposition of patients and disability separation processing and who is familiar with the Department of Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities.