Former service members who disagree with the disability ratings they received when they were discharged as unfit for military duty can now apply to have those ratings reviewed by a new Physical Disability Board of Review.

On June 30, the Defense Department announced formation of the new board to reassess the accuracy and fairness of disability ratings assigned to discharged troops, according to Sam Retherford, the Pentagon’s deputy director of officer personnel management.

Several past task forces and studies have cited inconsistencies in the way military departments assigned disability ratings for similar conditions, Retherford said, and the Army tended to assign the lowest ratings, according to the studies.

“The findings were enough to warrant the creation of a Physical Disability Board of Review,” Retherford said.

The board could affect almost half the 20,000 service members processed through the Disability Evaluation System each year. Of these, about 10 percent have combat or training injuries.

The board would, on request, review the cases involving a combined disability rating of 20 percent or less.

Disability ratings have a significant financial impact, determining whether the service member qualifies for retired pay and military benefits such as health care and base privileges for life, or a one-time severance pay with no additional benefits.

Those who receive 30 percent or higher disability ratings — 1,296 service personnel during fiscal year 2007 — are medically retired.

In addition, more than 4,200 service members were put on a temporary disability-retired list last year, a status retained for up to five years.

If the disability rating is 20 percent or lower, troops are typically discharged with severance as unfit for duty, Retherford explained. Of those separated as no longer fit for duty in fiscal year 2007, more than 9,200 received severance.

Another 1,150 did not receive severance, typically because their disabilities were due to misconduct or pre-service conditions. Almost 4,000 service members processed through the Disability Evaluation System were returned to duty.

About 10 percent appealed their disability ratings, Retherford said. Now, with the new review board, personnel will have additional recourse. Retherford said he anticipates the board will review about 900 cases per year, all by request.

Former service members separated from the military after Sept. 11, 2001, must apply to have their cases reviewed. The Defense Department plans to launch an awareness campaign about the board and how to apply.

The Defense Department designated the Air Force to operate and manage the new board, but it will include representatives from each military branch, as well as medical experts. No former service member will appear in person before the board.

The board can recommend that the service increase a disability rating, uphold the previous finding or issue a disability rating when the previous board did not assign one, Retherford said. The board, however, cannot recommend a lower rating.

For more information online, go to http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12029.

Medical Center enters nursing collaborative

The Providence VA Medical Center and the Rhode Island College School of Nursing have been selected to participate in the VA Nursing Academy.

The academy was established in 2007 to help address the nationwide shortage of nurses. The academy’s Enhancing Academic Partnerships program enables competitively selected VA and nursing school partnerships to expand nursing faculty, enhance the professional and scholarly development of nurses, increase student enrollment and promote innovations in nursing education.

The academy is a four-year program which: will expand use of the RIC Nursing Resource Laboratory for simulated learning experiences and competency assessment of both staff and students; will expand the number of innovative clinical rotations that reflect current trends in veteran health services; and will develop a collaborative approach to faculty professional development on scholarly projects and evidence-based practice and research.

For more information, call Jim Burrows, VA communications director, at (401) 457-3004.

Reunions

•The 21st annual reunion for crew members of the USS New Jersey Veterans, who served on the world’s most decorated battleship, will be held Sept. 17 to 21 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, N.J. Call (800) 227-6963 for reservations or go to www.USS NewJersey.org for more information.

•The Rhode Island chapter of the 43d Infantry Division Veterans’ Association will conduct its 62nd annual reunion from Aug. 21 to 24, at the Hampton Inn on Post Road in Warwick. For more information, write to Romano Del Rossi, 95 Newman Ave., Apt. N-802, Rumford Towers, Rumford, RI 02916.

•Association of U.S. Army

The state chapter’s executive committee will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. at VFW Post 10011, 354 Fruit Hill Ave., North Providence.

•VFW and Auxiliary

Smithfield Memorial Post 2929 will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the post home at 47 Farnum Pike, Smithfield. Line officers will have a budget meeting on Thursday at Gilbert Post 4487, 52 Underwood Lane, Middletown, at 6:30 p.m., immediately followed by a meeting for all chairmen. A council of administration meeting will be held on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Washington County Post 916, 155 High St., Wakefield, with state commander Stephen Stewart presiding.

•Marine Corps League

The Bucci-Atwood Detachment will meet tomorrow at the Armed Forces Reserves Center, Fields Point, Providence, at 7 p.m. The South County Detachment will meet tomorrow at VFW Post 916, 155 High St., Wakefield, at 7:30 p.m.

•Army Special Forces Association

Rhode Island Chapter 48 will meet tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., at the Corner Tavern, 20 South County Trail, North Kingstown. Family day is set for Aug. 16 at Walter May’s home in Foster.

•WAVES National – Women of the Sea Services

Ocean State Unit 118 will become the first women veterans’ organization to lead the state’s United Veterans Council when Ginny Hanson, Luisa White and Pat Steinbrick are sworn in Thursday as the group’s new president, secretary and treasurer, respectively. A 5:30 p.m. social hour will be followed by dinner at the Shriners Imperial Room at Rhodes Place in Cranston.

•American Legion

Armstrong-Gladding Post and Unit 69 will meet jointly Thursday at 7 p.m. to host a delegation from Bridgeport.

•Seabee Veterans of America

Island X-1 Davisville will meet at the Seabee Park and Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown, on Saturday at 9 a.m. All Seabees, active and retired, are invited to attend.

George W. Reilly can be reached at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or by writing to The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.