On Sept. 27, 2022, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia determined Veterans of the United States Navy and Marine Corps whose final Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) occurred between Sept. 12, 2016, and June 11, 2018, and who did not receive a medical retirement through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES), may be entitled to another PEB.
Impacted Veterans will have received a “Notice of Right for Physical Evaluation Board Readjudication” from the Department of Navy. This letter included the Veterans’ original PEB findings and a blank Election of Options (EOO), which can be used to request an additional review of their PEB findings.
It is important to note that, if impacted Veterans desire further review of their PEB findings, they must submit the EOO to the Class Action Review Board (CARB)/PEB by e-mail or U.S. mail before Feb. 26, 2024, or within 240 days of receipt of the notice, whichever comes first.
If the CARB/PEB does not receive a request for further review by an impacted Veteran, it will be presumed that they agree with the original findings and will finalize the case.
For those requesting further review, it is strongly encouraged that you state on your EOO the result that you desire and provide additional medical or non-medical evidence to support your position. Desired results may include but are not limited to: (1) having additional medical conditions found unfitting, (2) being placed on the Temporary or Permanent Disability Retired List, and/or (3) having a medical condition be determined combat-related or incurred in a combat zone. Medical evidence to support your position may include, but is not limited to, treatment notes or a statement/letter from a health care provider. Non-medical evidence may include, but is not limited to, statements or letters from family, friends, or fellow service members about a medical condition. Any medical condition, symptom, or diagnosis that you wish to be found unfitting must have existed at the time you were separated from the Naval service.
Inquiries about the CARB or general information about the CARB may be directed to a CARB Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer at pe*****************@na**.mil or 202-685-6436.
For class members desiring legal advice or counsel regarding the Torres CARB, a Government attorney is available for advice and counsel, free of charge, through the Department of the Navy’s Office of the Judge Advocate General, Disability Evaluation System Counsel Program (DESCP). The DESCP may be reached at DE**************@us.mil or (202) 875-1198. For additional information and the latest updates about the CARB please visit the CARB website, or https://www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/CORB/Pages/CARB.aspx.
