GAO: TDRL Process Needs Improvement

The Defense Department needs to improve the process of evaluating, treating, and counseling service members who are placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL), according to an April 13 report to Congress by the Government Accountability Office. The list of service members placed on TDRL status rose by 43 percent between fiscal years 2003 and 200, and now stands at 14,285, largely because of an increase in cases moving through the DoD disability evaluation system. Service members deemed unfit for duty because of service-related conditions can be placed on the TDRL rolls for as long as five years, providing that their disabilities are not stable enough to warrant their outright separation from service. Those on TDRL status qualify for military disability retirement benefits. According to the GAO, few return to full military status. GAO said the DoD falls short in examining results of physical examination board (PEB) decisions, conducting examinations once every 18 months, ensuring “consistent enforcement of TDRL rules, and providing consistent and accurate counseling information. As a result, temporary retirees told GAO, they are often confused and dissatisfied with the process.