Identify the decision you disagree with

Decision	Typical system
Treatment/care decision	Medical treatment facility, TRICARE or VA clinical/benefit process
Duty limitation / retention standard	Service medical and MEB process
Fitness, DoD disability rating or disposition	PEB / Disability Evaluation System
VA service-connected rating/effective date	VA claim and decision-review system
Historical military record remains erroneous	Service correction process / BCMR or BCNR after required exhaustion

Preserve the complete disability file

• Medical records and diagnostic evidence
• Profiles and duty limitations
• MEB narrative and member statements
• PEB findings and election documents
• VA examinations and proposed/final ratings
• Legal/counseling documents provided in DES
• Appeal, reconsideration or formal-hearing records
• Final separation/retirement orders and DD-214

Use the election and appeal instructions accompanying the MEB/PEB decision. A later DD Form 149 correction request is not a substitute for an available DES appeal that the member was required to exhaust.

Official sources

• Health.mil — Medical Evaluation Board
• Health.mil — Physical Evaluation Board
• Health.mil — Integrated Disability Evaluation System
• VA — Decision Reviews and Appeals
• DoD — DD Form 149

Source status: SRC-004; SRC-047; SRC-048; SRC-049; SRC-064; SRC-065 verified October 4, 2026. Use the current decision notice and service-specific procedure when it is more specific than this navigation guide.