In 2007, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) received presidential direction to conduct a joint program to modernize and improve the disability evaluation and compensation process for wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers. VA and DoD collaborated to develop the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES). The goals of IDES are to: Reduce the overall time it takes a Soldier to progress through the IDES process, starting at the time of referral to the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) and ending upon receipt of VA benefits or return to duty (RTD); Utilize a single examination process that meets the needs of VA and DoD; and Increase transparency of both the military disability evaluation system and VA claims processes for wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers and their families. The IDES process identifies all medical and/or psychological conditions that impact military occupational function for the purposes of determining fitness for duty and entitlement to military and/ or VA disability compensation. The core IDES process is standardized to ensure that each Soldier, Command, and the Army Staff understand their critical contributions to case processing. Accountability measures based on the minimum necessary standards are in place at all levels across the Army. This guidebook clarifies the processes, roles and responsibilities, and standards measured at each IDES step. The IDES Guidebook is intended solely to provide MTFs and their personnel with a description of IDES practices and procedures. The IDES Guidebook should not be construed or referenced as an authoritative source for IDES regulations or policy. In-text citations refer to authoritative IDES policy and regulations. Readers should always seek out these authoritative sources when necessary and should not, in any case, cite to the IDES Guidebook as Department of the Army policy."