The LDES vs. The IDES—Which is Better?

The Legacy Disability Evaluation System (LDES) and the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) are both systems used by the DoD to evaluate service members for disability benefits when they develop medical conditions that interfere with their ability to perform their military duties.

Both systems incorporate each step of the DoD Disability Process, including:

• a referral to the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) by a military physician
• a medical examination
• a review by the MEB to determine the medical acceptability of the service member’s conditions
• a review by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) to determine which conditions make the service member Unfit for Duty

At the conclusion of both systems, the service member will do one of the following:

• return to full duty if no conditions are unfitting
• be placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) if one or more conditions are unfitting and unstable
• be medically discharged if one or more conditions are unfitting and stable

Both systems also determine the type and amount of disability benefits the veteran will receive from the DoD for a medical separation or a medical retirement.

So, what are the differences between the Legacy Disability Evaluation System (LDES) and the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), and which one is better? 

The Legacy Disability Evaluation System (LDES)

The Legacy Disability Evaluation System (LDES) has been in existence for decades and consists solely of the DoD’s Disability Process without any involvement of the VA.

After referral to the MEB, the service member undergoes a medical exam equivalent to the VA’s C&P Exam, but administered by a military physician. 

Since the VA is not involved in the LDES, all rating decisions, though still based on the rules of the VASRD, are made directly by the PEB.

If the service member is discharged at the end of the LDES, they will only receive benefits from the DoD. In order to also receive benefits from the VA, the service member must submit a VA Claim on their own within the 180 days prior to discharge or at any time thereafter. 

Because the DoD makes all of the decisions internally, the LDES process has only 10 steps and takes an average of 103 days from referral to completion. 

Since the creation of the IDES in 2009, it is more difficult to have a case reviewed by the LDES. To enroll in the LDES, the Secretary of the Military Department must either approve an official request from the service member, or directly enroll them if they refuse to submit a VA Disability Claim or for other special circumstances.

The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES)

In 2009, the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) was created to bridge the gap between the DoD Disability Process and the VA Disability Process by combining the two into a single process. This allows the DoD and the VA to work closely together and share information.

Enrollment in the IDES occurs automatically when a service member is referred to the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB). 

After referral to the MEB, the service member undergoes a C&P Exam performed by the VA. The military does not conduct its own exam, but instead uses the evidence collected at the VA’s C&P Exam. 

After the MEB forwards the case to the PEB, the VA reviews all of the service member’s conditions, determines which are service-connected, and assigns a rating to each service-connected condition.

These decisions are then sent to the PEB, and the PEB determines which of the service-connected conditions make the service member Unfit for Duty. The PEB then uses the ratings already assigned to these conditions by the VA. 

After the IDES is complete, the service member is discharged with benefits from both the DoD and the VA, and they will begin to receive these benefits within 30 days of discharge. Because the DoD and VA processes are combined, the IDES has 15 steps and takes an average of 180 days from referral to completion. 

The LDES vs. the IDES—Which is Better?

Even though the IDES takes a bit longer (about 2.5 months) than the LDES, it is definitely the better option in the majority of cases. 

The integration between the DoD and the VA ensures that both processes are complete before discharge and allows for the veteran to receive benefits as soon after discharge as possible. It also ensures consistency throughout the process and in the receipt of benefits. 

Throughout the IDES, the service member also receives unified assistance from both a PEBLO (from the DoD) and an MSC (from the VA) who work together as a team to guide the service member throughout the entire process. The LDES does provide a PEBLO, but the service member does not receive similar support for submitting a VA Claim.

The only general reason, without personal special circumstances, to request the LDES instead of the IDES is if there is a pressing reason the process must be completed in less time. 

Overall, the IDES will allow a service member to separate with the peace of mind of having both disability processes complete.