No, you will not automatically have to redo all of your VA exams due to the MEB referral. The VA's Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program and the Department of Defense's Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) are designed to work together. Under IDES, the VA Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) exams you completed for your BDD claim typically serve as the required medical evaluations for both the VA rating and the DoD's determination of fitness (38 CFR 3.303(b) outlines the principle of continuity of symptomatology, supporting the use of existing evidence). The key is ensuring your Service Treatment Records (STRs) and those BDD exam results are forwarded to the MEB/PEB. Your actionable next steps are to immediately contact your assigned Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO) to confirm they have received your complete VA BDD exam file and to explicitly request that these existing exams be utilized per the IDES process to avoid redundant examinations. You should also gather copies of all your DBQs and exam reports for your personal records. If the MEB insists on a new exam for a specific condition, you can reference *DeLuca v. Brown*, which holds that the VA must consider the entire history of a disability, and argue for an addendum opinion rather than a completely new exam. Note that if you are referred into the Legacy Disability Evaluation System (LDES) instead of IDES, the processes are not integrated and exam duplication is likely, making confirmation of your system critical.
*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes regarding VA processes and is not intended as legal, medical, or official claims advice.*
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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