According to Military.com, over 200,000 military personnel leave the military on an annual basis. While most of these service members leave because their terms of service have been met, some leave military service for medical reasons caused by their active duty service. When a service member cannot fulfill their military service obligations and is forced to retire, they are given a medical discharge or separation.
A service member receiving this type of military service is entitled to various benefits, which can make their life much easier. However, getting this medical discharge can be lengthy and laborious. That’s why service members and their families should familiarize themselves with the proper protocol to receive a medical discharge.
This article covers the basics of this type of discharge, including a step-by-step explanation of how a military member can receive benefits that the military has to offer.
Contents
What is Medical Discharge in the US Military?
Medical discharges are considered administrative discharges that are neither positive nor negative in the military world. This means that people who receive this military discharge won’t encounter challenges in securing opportunities in the future because of their time in military service.
Medical discharges are exclusively given to people who became ill or injured during their military service and cannot perform the duties required of productive Armed Forces members. This type of administrative discharge is unique because it requires service members to undergo a medical evaluation and careful assessment of their cases. It needs to be proven that the military member has become unable to fulfill their obligations because of their military service period. In select cases, military service causes a pre-existing condition to get worse.
A service member is qualified to receive this type of discharge if they suffered a service-related injury or severe medical condition like combat injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or traumatic brain injury. Before they get discharged, that person is required to receive counseling or be given an opportunity for rehabilitation. Moreover, a person who’s served in a military branch is entitled to an Administrative Separation Board meeting. They can also appeal the decision if they disagree.
To have a better understanding of this military discharge, you should familiarize yourself with other types of discharges. To put things into perspective, there are eight types of military discharges. These are divided into administrative discharges and punitive discharges.
An honorable or general discharge is given to service members who have performed their duties well. An Honorable Discharge is ideal because recipients are entitled to all types of VA benefits. It also means that the recipient performed all their duties well and completed their service obligations.
Meanwhile, receiving a General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions can still be viewed positively. Receiving this type of discharge means the recipient served well in certain areas of their duty. However, they demonstrated misconduct or could not successfully adapt to a military environment.
An Other-Than-Honorable Discharge (OTH Discharge) is the most severe administrative discharge a service member may receive. To receive this administrative discharge, that person may have committed offenses like trouble with civilian authorities, security violations, and assault.
An Entry-Level Separation is issued when a military recruit is unable to complete basic or military occupational training. That person also served for less than 180 days. People issued this military discharge are given specific re-entry codes to provide context, but they’re not entitled to receive benefits.
The fifth type of discharge a service member may receive is Separation for the Convenience of the Government. This discharge is issued for various reasons, including force reductions or budget constraints. This sixth type of administrative discharge is medical discharge, the main topic of this article.
There are two types of punitive discharges: Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD) and Dishonorable Discharge. A Bad Conduct Discharge is issued to a service member through a general court-martial. This punitive discharge is usually accompanied by a prison sentence, depending on the circumstances surrounding that person’s case. Receiving a Bad Conduct Discharge can prevent that service member from reenlisting for military service and can affect their opportunities in the future.
The eighth type of discharge a person may receive is a Dishonorable Discharge. This discharge is considered the worst type of discharge a service member may receive. Only crimes that violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), like murder or fraud, would warrant someone to receive a Dishonorable Discharge.
How Do You Get a Medical Discharge?
Thousands of service members get sick or injured every year because of active duty service. However, some service members sustain injuries or illnesses that compromise their ability to fulfill their military duties.
The Armed Forces is equipped with the resources to ensure that all service members are given proper medical attention when needed. Despite the medical help provided by the military, select military members are unable to return to active duty service.
Service members are recognized to be unfit to fulfill their military obligations if they have at least one condition that significantly hinders their ability to perform their duties according to their office, grade, or rank. These conditions may be physical or mental.
According to Title 10, USC, chapter 61, the Secretaries of the Military Departments are authorized to retire or separate members officially unfit to perform their military duties because of physical disability, which may be caused by injury or illness.
However, all military service branches follow the Disability Evaluation System (DES) for Medical Discharges. When a person has a permanent condition that makes it almost impossible to return to full-duty service within a reasonable period, the treating physical should notify the nearest Military Treatment Facility (MTF).
There are two stages of review in the Disability Evaluation System before someone is considered eligible for Medical Discharge, namely the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) and the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB). The first step is for that person to go through MEB after their service branch refers them to the DES.
In 2007, the average period for active duty personnel to finish DES processes was 107 days, and for reservists, 149 days. Fortunately, the enhanced DES system has fast-tracked this process. Nowadays, a single physical examination conducted to VA standards takes place. This examination is part of the MEB and PEB disability ratings prepared to VA standards.
The Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) Process
The Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) evaluates a person’s ongoing treatment and condition. This board is authorized to decide whether the service member is fit for continued service. The MEB’s directive is to evaluate if that person’s condition will affect their performance in the military. To be more specific, their role is to determine if the service member is capable of “reasonably fulfilling the purposes of their employment on active duty.”
Each military branch has its own set of rules. In general, the MEB is composed of two or three medical care professionals. One of these professionals is the service member’s treating physician. It should be highlighted that the MEB is not considered a formal hearing, and the service member is not mandated to show up before a panel.
Instead, that person is referred to a Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO). The PEBLO is assigned to prepare a packet of information that contains the service member’s medical records, test results, and medical exams related to their medical conditions. The packet also includes letters from that person’s chain of command which talk about how their condition affects their duties, evaluation report copies, and other personnel records the MEB asks for. The PEBLO is also tasked to explain the MEB process to the military member and inform them of the outcome.
The service member is mandated to attend ALL appointments and provide the PEBLO with the following:
- Orders for recent promotions or demotions
- Leave and Earning Statement (LES)
- The last three evaluation reports (OER/NCOER)
- Enlisted/Officer Record Brief (ERB/ORB)
- Approved retirement or separation orders
Once the MEB finishes its deliberation process, three outcomes are possible:
- The service member is proclaimed fit to return to active military service
- The service member is placed under Temporary Limited Duty (TLD) if they’re not yet fit to return to active duty but appear to be within a reasonable period. This usually lasts eight months but not more than 16 cumulative months.
- The service member is referred to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) if uncertain that they are fit to return to duty after TLD.
The Physical Evaluation Board (PEB)
The next step involves the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB), the administrative body tasked to determine whether the service member is fit to return to active duty. While the MEB is in charge of determining whether that person is fit for their current assignment, the PEB’s job is to determine whether they are qualified to return to military duty.
Moreover, the PEB determines a person’s disability percentage, which affects the VA benefits they’re entitled to. There are two types of PEBs, informal and formal. The informal PEB is the first step to any PEB evaluation process and the service member isn’t required to attend any proceedings in this step.
The informal PEB usually has three members involving at least one senior medical officer and one field-grade personnel officer. The board members evaluate the MEB determination while the nonmedical officer analyzes the possible impact on a service member’s ability to perform their military obligations. The PEBLO assists the service member throughout this process.
The board’s findings will then be forwarded to the PEBLO, and the PEBLO will deliver the results to the service member within three working days of receipt.
Meanwhile, a formal PEB has three voting members, including at least one physician and one nonmedical officer. This board reexamines the service member’s potential fitness for duty in a de novo hearing, where all factual questions are addressed.
There are four possible outcomes:
- The service member is declared fit to return to active duty service.
- The service member is declared unfit for duty and led to separation of duty with or without severance pay or permanent retirement.
- The service member is placed on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL).
- The service member is placed on the Permanent Disability Retirement List (PDRL).
The Benefits for Medically Discharged Service Members
If you receive a Medical Discharge, you will be entitled to all VA benefits, like retirement, education, home loan, and insurance benefits. Some service members are entitled to VA disability compensation. In short, you’ll lead a more comfortable life despite your condition.
Conclusion
Getting medically discharged can be life changing. That’s why service members should be prepared for the lengthy process. If everything works out, this discharge type can make your life so much better. If you want to learn more about life in the military, explore the SCRACVS website further.
FAQs
Can you rejoin the military after being medically discharged?
Yes, it is possible to reenlist for active duty service after receiving this type of discharge. However, it depends on the circumstances surrounding the case.
Can you get medically discharged for anxiety?
Yes, developing anxiety or depression can be grounds for getting medically discharged. However, this would depend on your symptoms’ severity and how they respond to treatment.
How long is the process to get medically discharged from the military?
The MEB process usually takes 100 days, but this is not set in stone. This depends on the case’s circumstances.
What qualifies you for medical discharge from the military?
You are qualified for getting medically discharged if you have at least one condition that interferes with your ability to perform military duties.
What are the types of military discharges?
There are eight types of military discharges. These are divided into administrative discharges and punitive discharges.