Process for handling wounded, ill Airmen changes Published Dec. 23, 2010 By Darryl Lambert Director, TRICARE Operations Patient Administration SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Beginning in 2011, any wounded, ill and injured Shaw Airmen entered into the disability evaluation system will also enroll into the new evaluation process, or Integrated Disability Evaluation System. This joint effort of the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs, is designed to streamline and expedite disability recovery and processing to create improved treatment, evaluation and delivery of compensation and benefits. The program ensures a seamless transition for DoD wounded, ill or injured regarding care, benefits and services in the VA system. Specifically, the IDES program provides individualized, integrated, interagency and intergovernmental support for service members and veterans throughout the process of recovery, rehabilitation, evaluation, transition and reintegration. The introduction of a single comprehensive medical examination and single-sourced disability rating will be instrumental towards improving the process. Before the IDES process, military personnel leaving active duty with medical problems had to go through two different, sometimes lengthy, processes before eligibility for VA benefits was determined. During the first process, military specialists determined suitability to remain on active duty. The second process through the VA focused on protecting lifetime income that may be threatened by service-related disability. It's now one seamless process: Once a member is entered into the medical evaluation boards program, the member is also entered into the IDES program. Health administrators will notify the member of an appointment with the MEB section to review the entire process and answer any questions the member may have. The medical group point of contact for questions regarding the IDES program is the MEB section, (803) 895-6203/6776.