DOD officials order disability board results review

By Janis El Shabazz, Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Some Airmen who met a medical or physical disability evaluation board between Sept. 11, 2001 and April 30, 2012 prior to separating from the Air Force may be eligible for re-evaluation, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

When defense officials learned some diagnoses had been changed during board processing between 2001 and 2012, the secretary of defense called for a department-wide review of mental health diagnoses for members who met evaluation boards between the affected dates.

The Air Force review identified 250 eligible Airmen whose mental health diagnoses changed during the disability evaluation process. A mass mail-out effort to ensure those Airmen were aware of the opportunity to be re-evaluated elicited 31 responses.

To ensure all eligible Airmen receive and respond to the notification letter, the under secretary of defense has requested a second mailing be initiated by Dec. 31, with a required media engagement to precede the mail out.

Service members who have received a notification letter are encouraged to respond as stated in the letter. For information concerning the Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review, go to the PDBR website at http://www.health.mil/PDBR. or email PDBR at PDBRPA@afncr.af.mil.