TRANSITIONVA program
Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES)
Joint DoD and VA disability evaluation for service members who are wounded, injured, or ill and cannot perform their duties. A service member found medically unfit for duty gets a proposed VA disability rating before leaving the service, plus VR&E services.
Available to service members whose doctor refers them because an injury or illness keeps them from performing their duties
Step-by-step guide
What you get
If you are found medically unfit for duty, IDES gives you a proposed VA disability rating before you leave the service, and you can start Veteran Readiness and Employment services early.
What starts IDES
- A referral from your military doctorIDES starts when a military doctor refers a service member who cannot perform their duties because of a wound, injury, or illness.
- A finding that you are medically unfit for dutyThe proposed VA rating comes after a Physical Evaluation Board finds you medically unfit for duty. If the board finds you fit, the service returns you to duty.
Source: VA.gov: pre-discharge claim (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veteran Readiness and Employment through IDES (opens in new tab); M21-1 X.i.6.I (opens in new tab)
Which part of IDES is this?
- The VA rating side of IDES
If you are wounded, injured, or become ill and cannot perform your duties, your military doctor refers you to IDES. VA and the Defense Department work on the evaluation together. If you are found medically unfit, you get a proposed VA rating before you leave the service.
Source: VA.gov: Veteran Readiness and Employment through IDES (opens in new tab); VA.gov: pre-discharge claim (opens in new tab)
- VR&E while you are in IDES
Service members in IDES can apply for Veteran Readiness and Employment before they have a VA rating. VR&E counselors work at bases that host an IDES site.
- A meeting with a VR&E counselorAt a base with an IDES site, referral to the Physical Evaluation Board brings a required meeting with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, who works out which VR&E services fit you.
- An application for VR&EService members in IDES, or going through the Physical Evaluation Board, can apply on VA Form 28-0588 without waiting for a rating.
Source: VA.gov: Veteran Readiness and Employment through IDES (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VR&E (opens in new tab); VA Form 28-0588 (opens in new tab); 38 CFR 21.40(c) (opens in new tab)
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDES referral The referral your military doctor makes when you cannot perform your duties because of a wound, injury, or illness. | That you entered IDES | Your service starts it. You do not file anything with VA to begin IDES. | |
| Physical Evaluation Board finding The Physical Evaluation Board finding on whether you are fit for duty, made by your service on its own form. | Whether you were found medically unfit for duty | Your service makes it and VA is told the result through IDES. | |
| VR&E form for service members VA Form 28-0588, for service members who do not have a VA rating yet. | That you asked for VR&E during IDES | Download it from the VA.gov form page, or ask the VR&E counselor at your IDES site. | |
| Meeting with a VR&E counselor The required meeting with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at your IDES site. | Which VR&E services fit your needs and goals | VA sets it up when you are referred to the Physical Evaluation Board at an IDES site. |
IDES records move between your service and VA. BeneVets does not ask for copies of them.
Steps, in order
- Referral to IDES
If you cannot perform your duties because of a wound, injury, or illness, your military doctor refers you to IDES.
Source: VA.gov: pre-discharge claim (opens in new tab); VA.gov: Veteran Readiness and Employment through IDES (opens in new tab)
- IDES is a different path from BDD
BDD is for service members separating on a known date who can attend VA exams in the window. In IDES, the proposed VA rating comes through IDES.
- Meet the VR&E counselor
When you are referred to the Physical Evaluation Board at an IDES site, you have a required meeting with a VR&E counselor.
Source: VA.gov: Veteran Readiness and Employment through IDES (opens in new tab)
- Apply for VR&E
Fill out VA Form 28-0588. You do not need a VA rating first.
Source: VA Form 28-0588 (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VR&E (opens in new tab)
- Get the proposed VA rating
If you are found medically unfit for duty, IDES gives you a proposed VA disability rating before you leave the service.
Source: VA.gov: Veteran Readiness and Employment through IDES (opens in new tab); VA.gov: pre-discharge claim (opens in new tab)
- Get free help
Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you. The VA.gov pre-discharge claim page names accredited representatives and VSOs as a source of help.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: pre-discharge claim (opens in new tab)
Good to know
VA.gov treats them as separate paths: BDD for service members with a known separation date 180 to 90 days out, and IDES, through a referral from a military doctor, for service members who cannot perform their duties.
VA.gov says severely injured active duty service members can receive VR&E services before VA issues a rating, under section 1631(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 110-181).
Source: VA.gov: VR&E requirements (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for VR&E (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 8, 2026: 38 CFR 21.40(c) (opens in new tab), VA.gov: pre-discharge claim (opens in new tab), VA.gov: Veteran Readiness and Employment through IDES (opens in new tab), VA.gov: VR&E requirements (opens in new tab), VA.gov: how to apply for VR&E (opens in new tab), VA Form 28-0588 (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab), M21-1 X.i.6.E (opens in new tab), M21-1 X.i.6.I (opens in new tab)