Collapse to view only § 1219. Statement of origin of disease or injury: limitations
- § 1201. Regulars and members on active duty for more than 30 days: retirement
- § 1202. Regulars and members on active duty for more than 30 days: temporary disability retired list
- § 1203. Regulars and members on active duty for more than 30 days: separation
- § 1204. Members on active duty for 30 days or less or on inactive-duty training: retirement
- § 1205. Members on active duty for 30 days or less: temporary disability retired list
- § 1206. Members on active duty for 30 days or less or on inactive-duty training: separation
- § 1206a. Reserve component members unable to perform duties when ordered to active duty: disability system processing
- § 1207. Disability from intentional misconduct or willful neglect: separation
- § 1207a. Members with over eight years of active service: eligibility for disability retirement for pre-existing conditions
- § 1208. Computation of service
- § 1209. Transfer to inactive status list instead of separation
- § 1210. Members on temporary disability retired list: periodic physical examination; final determination of status
- § 1211. Members on temporary disability retired list: return to active duty; promotion
- § 1212. Disability severance pay
- § 1213. Effect of separation on benefits and claims
- § 1214. Right to full and fair hearing
- § 1214a. Members determined fit for duty in Physical Evaluation Board: prohibition on involuntary administrative separation or denial of reenlistment due to unsuitability based on medical conditions considered in evaluation
- § 1215. Members other than Regulars: applicability of laws
- § 1216. Secretaries: powers, functions, and duties
- § 1216a. Determinations of disability: requirements and limitations on determinations
- § 1217. Academy cadets and midshipmen: applicability of chapter
- § 1218. Discharge or release from active duty: claims for compensation, pension, or hospitalization
- § 1218a. Discharge or release from active duty: transition assistance for reserve component members injured while on active duty
- § 1219. Statement of origin of disease or injury: limitations
- [§ 1220. Repealed.
- § 1221. Effective date of retirement or placement of name on temporary disability retired list
- § 1222. Physical evaluation boards
§ 1201. Regulars and members on active duty for more than 30 days: retirement
(a)Retirement.—Upon a determination by the Secretary concerned that a member described in subsection (c) is unfit to perform the duties of the member’s office, grade, rank, or rating because of physical disability incurred while entitled to basic pay or while absent as described in subsection (c)(3), the Secretary may retire the member, with retired pay computed under section 1401 of this title, if the Secretary also makes the determinations with respect to the member and that disability specified in subsection (b).
(b)Required Determinations of Disability.—Determinations referred to in subsection (a) are determinations by the Secretary that—
(1) based upon accepted medical principles, the disability is of a permanent nature and stable;
(2) the disability is not the result of the member’s intentional misconduct or willful neglect, and was not incurred during a period of unauthorized absence; and
(3) either—
(A) the member has at least 20 years of service computed under section 1208 of this title; or
(B) the disability is at least 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination; and either—
(i) the disability was not noted at the time of the member’s entrance on active duty (unless clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrates that the disability existed before the member’s entrance on active duty and was not aggravated by active military service);
(ii) the disability is the proximate result of performing active duty;
(iii) the disability was incurred in line of duty in time of war or national emergency; or
(iv) the disability was incurred in line of duty after September 14, 1978.
(c)Eligible Members.—This section and sections 1202 and 1203 of this title apply to the following members:
(1) A member of a regular component of the armed forces entitled to basic pay.
(2) Any other member of the armed forces entitled to basic pay who has been called or ordered to active duty (other than for training under section 10148(a) of this title) for a period of more than 30 days.
(3) Any other member of the armed forces who is on active duty but is not entitled to basic pay by reason of section 502(b) of title 37 due to authorized absence (A) to participate in an educational program, or (B) for an emergency purpose, as determined by the Secretary concerned.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 91; Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(28)(A), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1451; Pub. L. 87–651, title I, § 107(a), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 508; Pub. L. 95–377, § 3(1), Sept. 19, 1978, 92 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 96–343, § 10(c)(1), Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1129; Pub. L. 96–513, title I, § 117, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2878; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 513(a)(1)(A), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 627; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1671(c)(6), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3014; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 572(a), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2533; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVI, § 1641(a), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 464; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VII, § 727(a), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4510.)
§ 1202. Regulars and members on active duty for more than 30 days: temporary disability retired list
Upon a determination by the Secretary concerned that a member described in section 1201(c) of this title would be qualified for retirement under section 1201 of this title but for the fact that his disability is not determined to be of a permanent nature and stable, the Secretary shall, if he also determines that accepted medical principles indicate that the disability may be of a permanent nature, place the member’s name on the temporary disability retired list, with retired pay computed under section 1401 of this title.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 92; Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(28)(A), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1451; Pub. L. 87–651, title I, § 107(a), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 508; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 513(a)(1)(B), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 627; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1671(c)(6), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3014; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 572(b), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2533.)
§ 1203. Regulars and members on active duty for more than 30 days: separation
(a)Separation.—Upon a determination by the Secretary concerned that a member described in section 1201(c) of this title is unfit to perform the duties of the member’s office, grade, rank, or rating because of physical disability incurred while entitled to basic pay or while absent as described in section 1201(c)(3) of this title, the member may be separated from the member’s armed force, with severance pay computed under section 1212 of this title, if the Secretary also makes the determinations with respect to the member and that disability specified in subsection (b).
(b)Required Determinations of Disability.—Determinations referred to in subsection (a) are determinations by the Secretary that—
(1) the member has less than 20 years of service computed under section 1208 of this title;
(2) the disability is not the result of the member’s intentional misconduct or willful neglect, and was not incurred during a period of unauthorized absence;
(3) based upon accepted medical principles, the disability is or may be of a permanent nature; and
(4) either—
(A) the disability is less than 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination, and the disability was (i) the proximate result of performing active duty, (ii) incurred in line of duty in time of war or national emergency, or (iii) incurred in line of duty after September 14, 1978;
(B) the disability is less than 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination, the disability was not noted at the time of the member’s entrance on active duty (unless clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrates that the disability existed before the member’s entrance on active duty and was not aggravated by active military service), or
(C) the disability is at least 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination, the disability was neither (i) the proximate result of performing active duty, (ii) incurred in line of duty in time of war or national emergency, nor (iii) incurred in line of duty after September 14, 1978, and the member has less than eight years of service computed under section 1208 of this title on the date when he would otherwise be retired under section 1201 of this title or placed on the temporary disability retired list under section 1202 of this title.
However, if the member is eligible for transfer to the inactive status list under section 1209 of this title, and so elects, he shall be transferred to that list instead of being separated.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 92; Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(28)(A), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1451; Pub. L. 87–651, title I, § 107(a), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 508; Pub. L. 95–377, § 3(2), (3), Sept. 19, 1978, 92 Stat. 719, 720; Pub. L. 96–343, § 10(c)(2), (3), Sept. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1129; Pub. L. 96–513, title I, § 117, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2878; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1671(c)(6), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3014; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 572(c), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2533; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVI, § 1641(b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 465; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VII, § 727(b), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4510; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, § 1075(b)(19), (e)(12), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4370, 4375.)
§ 1204. Members on active duty for 30 days or less or on inactive-duty training: retirementUpon a determination by the Secretary concerned that a member of the armed forces not covered by section 1201, 1202, or 1203 of this title is unfit to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank, or rating because of physical disability, the Secretary may retire the member with retired pay computed under section 1401 of this title, if the Secretary also determines that—
(1) based upon accepted medical principles, the disability is of a permanent nature and stable;
(2) the disability—
(A) was incurred before September 24, 1996, as the proximate result of—
(i) performing active duty or inactive-duty training;
(ii) traveling directly to or from the place at which such duty is performed; or
(iii) an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated while remaining overnight, immediately before the commencement of inactive-duty training, or while remaining overnight between successive periods of inactive-duty training, at or in the vicinity of the site of the inactive-duty training, if the site of the inactive-duty training is outside reasonable commuting distance of the member’s residence;
(B) is a result of an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated in line of duty after September 23, 1996—
(i) while performing active duty or inactive-duty training;
(ii) while traveling directly to or from the place at which such duty is performed; or
(iii) while remaining overnight, immediately before the commencement of inactive-duty training, or while remaining overnight between successive periods of inactive-duty training, at or in the vicinity of the site of the inactive-duty training; or
(C) is a result of an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated in line of duty—
(i) while the member was serving on funeral honors duty under section 12503 of this title or section 115 of title 32;
(ii) while the member was traveling to or from the place at which the member was to so serve; or
(iii) while the member remained overnight at or in the vicinity of that place immediately before so serving, if the place is outside reasonable commuting distance from the member’s residence;
(3) the disability is not the result of the member’s intentional misconduct or willful neglect, and was not incurred during a period of unauthorized absence; and
(4) either—
(A) the member has at least 20 years of service computed under section 1208 of this title; or
(B) the disability is at least 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 93; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 513(a)(1)(A), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 627; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title VI, § 604(d)(1), (2)(A), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3876; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title V, § 516(a), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2407; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 534, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2521; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 513(c)(1), (d)(1), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1730, 1731; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 578(i)(3), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 513(b), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1093.)
§ 1205. Members on active duty for 30 days or less: temporary disability retired list
Upon a determination by the Secretary concerned that a member of the armed forces not covered by section 1201, 1202, or 1203 of this title would be qualified for retirement under section 1204 of this title but for the fact that his disability is not determined to be of a permanent nature and stable, the Secretary shall, if he also determines that accepted medical principles indicate that the disability may be of a permanent nature, place the member’s name on the temporary disability retired list, with retired pay computed under section 1401 of this title.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 94; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 513(a)(1)(B), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 627; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title VI, § 604(d)(2)[(B)], Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3876.)
§ 1206. Members on active duty for 30 days or less or on inactive-duty training: separationUpon a determination by the Secretary concerned that a member of the armed forces not covered by section 1201, 1202, or 1203 of this title is unfit to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank, or rating because of physical disability, the member may be separated from his armed force, with severance pay computed under section 1212 of this title, if the Secretary also determines that—
(1) the member has less than 20 years of service computed under section 1208 of this title;
(2) the disability is a result of an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated in line of duty—
(A) while—
(i) performing active duty or inactive-duty training;
(ii) traveling directly to or from the place at which such duty is performed; or
(iii) remaining overnight immediately before the commencement of inactive-duty training, or while remaining overnight between successive periods of inactive-duty training, at or in the vicinity of the site of the inactive-duty training, if the site is outside reasonable commuting distance of the member’s residence; or
(B) while the member—
(i) was serving on funeral honors duty under section 12503 of this title or section 115 of title 32;
(ii) was traveling to or from the place at which the member was to so serve; or
(iii) remained overnight at or in the vicinity of that place immediately before so serving;
(3) the disability is not the result of the member’s intentional misconduct or willful neglect, and was not incurred during a period of unauthorized absence;
(4) based upon accepted medical principles, the disability is or may be of a permanent nature; and
(5) the disability is less than 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination, and, in the case of a disability incurred before October 5, 1999, was the proximate result of performing active duty or inactive-duty training or of traveling directly to or from the place at which such duty is performed.
However, if the member is eligible for transfer to the inactive status list under section 1209 of this title, and so elects, he shall be transferred to that list instead of being separated.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 94; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title VI, § 604(d)(1), (3), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3876; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title V, § 516(a), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2407; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 513(c)(2), (d)(2), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1731; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 578(i)(4), title VI, § 653(c), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 629, 667; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 513(b), title X, § 1048(c)(6), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1093, 1226.)
§ 1206a. Reserve component members unable to perform duties when ordered to active duty: disability system processing
(a)Members Released From Active Duty Within 30 Days.—A member of a reserve component who is ordered to active duty for a period of more than 30 days and is released from active duty within 30 days of commencing such period of active duty for a reason stated in subsection (b) shall be considered for all purposes under this chapter to have been serving under an order to active duty for a period of 30 days or less.
(b)Applicable Reasons for Release.—Subsection (a) applies in the case of a member released from active duty because of a failure to meet—
(1) physical standards for retention due to a preexisting condition not aggravated during the period of active duty; or
(2) medical or dental standards for deployment due to a preexisting condition not aggravated during the period of active duty.
(c)Savings Provision for Medical Care Provided While on Active Duty.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), any benefit under chapter 55 of this title received by a member described in subsection (a) or a dependent of such member before or during the period of active duty shall not be subject to recoupment or otherwise affected.
(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 521(a), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1887.)
§ 1207. Disability from intentional misconduct or willful neglect: separation
Each member of the armed forces who incurs a physical disability that, in the determination of the Secretary concerned, makes him unfit to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank, or rating, and that resulted from his intentional misconduct or willful neglect or was incurred during a period of unauthorized absence, shall be separated from his armed force without entitlement to any benefits under this chapter.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 94.)
§ 1207a. Members with over eight years of active service: eligibility for disability retirement for pre-existing conditions
(a) In the case of a member described in subsection (b) who would be covered by section 1201, 1202, or 1203 of this title but for the fact that the member’s disability is determined to have been incurred before the member became entitled to basic pay in the member’s current period of active duty, the disability shall be deemed to have been incurred while the member was entitled to basic pay and shall be so considered for purposes of determining whether the disability was incurred in the line of duty.
(b) A member described in subsection (a) is a member with at least eight years of active service.
(Added Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 653(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 666.)
§ 1208. Computation of service
(a) For the purposes of this chapter, a member of a regular component shall be credited with the service described in paragraph (1) or that described in paragraph (2), whichever is greater:
(1) The service that he is considered to have for the purpose of separation, discharge, or retirement for length of service.
(2) The sum of—
(A) his active service as a member of the armed forces, a nurse, a reserve nurse, a contract surgeon, a contract dental surgeon, or an acting dental surgeon;
(B) his active service as a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Public Health Service; and
(C) his service while participating in exercises or performing duties under sections 502, 503, 504, and 505 of title 32.
For the purpose of paragraph (2), active service as a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration includes active service as a member of the Environmental Science Services Administration and of the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
(b) A member of the armed forces who is not a member of a regular component shall be credited, for the purposes of this chapter, with the number of years of service that he would count if he were computing his years of service under section 12733 of this title.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 94; Pub. L. 89–718, § 8, Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1117; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, §§ 501(16), 511(42), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2908, 2923; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title XIII, § 1343(a)(6), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3992; Pub. L. 100–26, § 7(j)(3), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 283; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1501(c)(13), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 499.)
§ 1209. Transfer to inactive status list instead of separation
Any member of the armed forces who has at least 20 years of service computed under section 12732 of this title, and who would be qualified for retirement under this chapter but for the fact that his disability is less than 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination, may elect, instead of being separated under this chapter, to be transferred to the inactive status list under section 12735 of this title and, if otherwise eligible, to receive retired pay under section 12739 of this title upon becoming 60 years of age.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 95; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1501(c)(14), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 499.)
§ 1210. Members on temporary disability retired list: periodic physical examination; final determination of status
(a) A physical examination shall be given at least once every 18 months to each member of the armed forces whose name is on the temporary disability retired list to determine whether there has been a change in the disability for which he was temporarily retired. He may be required to submit to those examinations while his name is carried on that list. If a member fails to report for an examination under this subsection, after receipt of proper notification, his disability retired pay may be terminated. However, payments to him shall be resumed if there was just cause for his failure to report. If payments are so resumed, they may be made retroactive for not more than one year.
(b) The Secretary concerned shall make a final determination of the case of each member whose name is on the temporary disability retired list upon the expiration of three years after the date when the member’s name was placed on that list. If, at the time of that determination, the physical disability for which the member’s name was carried on the temporary disability retired list still exists, it shall be considered to be of a permanent nature and stable.
(c) If, as a result of a periodic examination under subsection (a), or upon a final determination under subsection (b), it is determined that the member’s physical disability is of a permanent nature and stable and is at least 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination, his name shall be removed from the temporary disability retired list and he shall be retired under section 1201 or 1204 of this title, whichever applies.
(d) If, as a result of a periodic examination under subsection (a), or upon a final determination under subsection (b), it is determined that the member’s physical disability is of a permanent nature and stable and is less than 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination, and if he has at least 20 years of service computed under section 1208 of this title, his name shall be removed from the temporary disability retired list and he shall be retired under section 1201 or 1204 of this title, whichever applies, with retired pay computed under section 1401 of this title.
(e) If, as a result of a periodic examination under subsection (a), or upon a final determination under subsection (b), it is determined that the member’s physical disability is less than 30 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of the determination, and if he has less than 20 years of service computed under section 1208 of this title, his name shall be removed from the temporary disability retired list and he may be separated under section 1203 or 1206 of this title, whichever applies.
(f)
(1) If, as a result of a periodic examination under subsection (a), or upon a final determination under subsection (b), it is determined that the member is physically fit to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank, or rating, the Secretary shall—
(A) treat the member as provided in section 1211 of this title; or
(B) discharge the member, retire the member, or transfer the member to the Fleet Reserve, Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, or inactive Reserve under any other law if, under that law, the member—
(i) applies for and qualifies for that retirement or transfer; or
(ii) is required to be discharged, retired, or eliminated from an active status.
(2)
(A) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(B), a member shall be considered qualified for retirement or transfer to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve or is required to be discharged, retired, or eliminated from an active status if, were the member reappointed or reenlisted under section 1211 of this title, the member would in all other respects be qualified for or would be required to be retired, transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, discharged, or eliminated from an active status under any other provision of law.
(B) The grade of a member retired, transferred, discharged, or eliminated from an active status pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) shall be determined under the provisions of law under which the member is retired, transferred, discharged, or eliminated. The member’s retired, retainer, severance, readjustment, or separation pay shall be computed as if the member had been reappointed or reenlisted upon removal from the temporary disability retired list and before the retirement, transfer, discharge, or elimination. Notwithstanding section 8301 of title 5, a member who is retired shall be entitled to retired pay effective on the day after the last day on which the member is entitled to disability retired pay.
(g) Any member of the armed forces whose name is on the temporary disability retired list, and who is required to travel to submit to a physical examination under subsection (a), is entitled to the travel and transportation allowances authorized for members in his retired grade traveling in connection with temporary duty while on active duty.
(h) If his name is not sooner removed, the disability retired pay of a member whose name is on the temporary disability retired list terminates upon the expiration of three years after the date when his name was placed on that list.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 95; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 513(a)(2), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 627; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, § 525(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2117.)
§ 1211. Members on temporary disability retired list: return to active duty; promotion
(a) With his consent, any member of the Army, the Air Force, or the Space Force whose name is on the temporary disability retired list, and who is found to be physically fit to perform the duties of his office, grade, or rank under section 1210(f) of this title, shall—
(1) if a commissioned officer of a regular component, be recalled to active duty and, as soon as practicable, may be reappointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to the active-duty list in the regular grade held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or in the next higher regular grade;
(2) if a warrant officer of a regular component, be recalled to active duty and, as soon as practicable, be reappointed by the Secretary concerned in the regular grade held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or in the next higher regular warrant grade;
(3) if an enlisted member of a regular component, be reenlisted in the regular grade held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list or in the next higher regular enlisted grade;
(4) if a commissioned, warrant, or enlisted Reserve, be reappointed or reenlisted as a Reserve for service in his reserve component in the reserve grade held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or appointed or enlisted in the next higher reserve commissioned, warrant, or enlisted grade, as the case may be;
(5) if a commissioned, warrant, or enlisted member of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States when the disability was incurred, and if he cannot be reappointed or reenlisted as a Reserve for service therein, be appointed or enlisted as a Reserve for service in the Army Reserve or the Air Force Reserve, as the case may be, in a grade corresponding to the reserve grade held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or in the next higher reserve commissioned, warrant, or enlisted grade, as the case may be; and
(6) if a member of the Army, the Air Force, or the Space Force who has no regular or reserve grade, be reappointed or reenlisted in the Army, the Air Force, or the Space Force, as the case may be, in the temporary grade held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or appointed or enlisted in the next higher temporary grade.
(b) With his consent, any member of the naval service or of the Coast Guard whose name is on the temporary disability retired list, and who is found to be physically fit to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank, or rating under section 1210(f) of this title, shall—
(1) if he held an appointment in a commissioned grade in a regular component when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, be recalled to active duty and, as soon as practicable, may be reappointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to his regular component in the grade permanently held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or in the next higher grade;
(2) if he held an appointment in the grade of warrant officer, W–1, in a regular component when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, be recalled to active duty and, as soon as practicable, be reappointed by the Secretary concerned in his regular component in the grade permanently held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or may be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to the grade of chief warrant officer, W–2;
(3) if he held a permanent enlisted grade in a regular component when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, be reenlisted in his regular component in the grade permanently held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or in the next higher enlisted grade;
(4) if he was a member of the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, resume his status in the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve in the grade held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or in the next higher enlisted grade; and
(5) if a member of a reserve component be reappointed or reenlisted in his reserve component in the grade permanently held by him when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list or, if that permanent grade is not chief petty officer or master sergeant, in the next higher grade in that reserve component.
(c) If a member is appointed, reappointed, enlisted, or reenlisted, or resumes his status in the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, under subsection (a) or (b), his status on the temporary disability retired list terminates on the date of his appointment, reappointment, enlistment, reenlistment, or resumption, as the case may be. However, if such a member does not consent to the action proposed under subsection (a) or (b), and if the member is not discharged, retired, or transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve or inactive Reserve under section 1210 of this title, his status on the temporary disability retired list and his disability retired pay shall be terminated as soon as practicable and the member shall be discharged.
(d) Disability retired pay of a member covered by this section terminates—
(1) on the date when he is recalled to active duty under subsection (a)(1) or (2) or subsection (b)(1) or (2), for an officer of a regular component;
(2) on the date when he resumes his status in the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve under subsection (b)(4), for a member of the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve; and
(3) on the date when he is appointed, reappointed, enlisted, or reenlisted, for any other member of the armed forces.
(e) Whenever seniority in grade or years of service is a factor in determining the qualifications of a member of the armed forces for promotion, each member who has been appointed, reappointed, enlisted, or reenlisted, under subsection (a) or (b), shall, when his name is placed on a lineal list, a promotion list, an approved all-fully-qualified-officers list, or any similar list, have the seniority in grade and be credited with the years of service authorized by the Secretary concerned. The authorized strength in any regular grade is automatically increased to the minimum extent necessary to give effect to each appointment made in that grade under this section. An authorized strength so increased is increased for no other purpose, and while he holds that grade the officer whose appointment caused the increase is counted for the purpose of determining when other appointments, not under this section, may be made in that grade.
(f) Action under this section shall be taken on a fair and equitable basis, with regard being given to the probable opportunities for advancement and promotion that the member might reasonably have had if his name had not been placed on the temporary disability retired list.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 96; Pub. L. 87–651, title I, § 107(b), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 508; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 501(17), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2908; Pub. L. 99–145, title V, § 513(a)(3), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 627; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 505(c)(4), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1088; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(24), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3824.)
§ 1212. Disability severance pay
(a) Upon separation from his armed force under section 1203 or 1206 of this title, a member is entitled to disability severance pay computed by multiplying (1) the member’s years of service computed under section 1208 of this title (subject to the minimum and maximum years of service provided for in subsection (c)), by (2) the highest of the following amounts:
(A) Twice the amount of monthly basic pay to which he would be entitled if serving (i) on active duty on the date when he is separated and (ii) in the grade and rank in which he was serving on the date when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list, or if his name was not carried on that list, on the date when he is separated.
(B) Twice the amount of monthly basic pay to which he would be entitled if serving (i) on active duty on the date when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list or, if his name was not carried on that list, on the date when he is separated, and (ii) in any temporary grade or rank higher than that described in clause (A), in which he served satisfactorily as determined by the Secretary of the military department or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as the case may be, having jurisdiction over the armed force from which he is separated.
(C) Twice the amount of monthly basic pay to which he would be entitled if serving (i) on active duty on the date when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list or, if his name was not carried on that list, on the date when he is separated, and (ii) in the permanent regular or reserve grade to which he would have been promoted had it not been for the physical disability for which he is separated and which was found to exist as a result of a physical examination.
(D) Twice the amount of monthly basic pay to which he would be entitled if serving (i) on active duty on the date when his name was placed on the temporary disability retired list or, if his name was not carried on that list, on the date when he is separated, and (ii) in the temporary grade or rank to which he would have been promoted had it not been for the physical disability for which he is separated and which was found to exist as a result of a physical examination, if his eligibility for promotion was required to be based on cumulative years of service or years in grade.
(b) For the purposes of subsection (a), a part of a year of active service that is six months or more is counted as a whole year, and a part of a year that is less than six months is disregarded.
(c)
(1) The minimum years of service of a member for purposes of subsection (a)(1) shall be as follows:
(A) Six years in the case of a member separated from the armed forces for a disability incurred in line of duty in a combat zone (as designated by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of this subsection) or incurred during the performance of duty in combat-related operations as designated by the Secretary of Defense.
(B) Three years in the case of any other member.
(2) The maximum years of service of a member for purposes of subsection (a)(1) shall be 19 years.
(d)
(1) The amount of disability severance pay received under this section shall be deducted from any compensation for the same disability to which the former member of the armed forces or his dependents become entitled under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) No deduction may be made under paragraph (1) in the case of disability severance pay received by a member for a disability incurred in line of duty in a combat zone or incurred during performance of duty in combat-related operations as designated by the Secretary of Defense.
(3) No deduction may be made under paragraph (1) from any death compensation to which a member’s dependents become entitled after the member’s death.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 98; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(43), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2924; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 593(a), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1126; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(b)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVI, § 1646(a), (b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 472.)
§ 1213. Effect of separation on benefits and claims
Unless a person who has received disability severance pay again becomes a member of an armed force, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the Public Health Service, he is not entitled to any payment from the armed force from which he was separated for, or arising out of, his service before separation, under any law administered by one of those services or for it by another of those services. However, this section does not prohibit the payment of money to a person who has received disability severance pay, if the money was due him on the date of his separation or if a claim by him is allowed under any law.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 99; Pub. L. 89–718, § 8(a), Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1117; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(44), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2924.)
§ 1214. Right to full and fair hearing
No member of the armed forces may be retired or separated for physical disability without a full and fair hearing if he demands it.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 100.)
§ 1214a. Members determined fit for duty in Physical Evaluation Board: prohibition on involuntary administrative separation or denial of reenlistment due to unsuitability based on medical conditions considered in evaluation
(a)Disposition.—Except as provided in subsection (c), the Secretary of the military department concerned may not authorize the involuntary administrative separation of a member described in subsection (b), or deny reenlistment of the member, based on a determination that the member is unsuitable for deployment or worldwide assignment based on the same medical condition of the member considered by a Physical Evaluation Board during the evaluation of the member.
(b)Covered Members.—A member covered by subsection (a) is any member of the armed forces who has been determined by a Physical Evaluation Board pursuant to a physical evaluation by the board to be fit for duty.
(c)Reevaluation.—
(1) The Secretary of the military department concerned may direct the Physical Evaluation Board to reevaluate any member described in subsection (b) if the Secretary has reason to believe that a medical condition of the member considered by the Physical Evaluation Board during the evaluation of the member described in that subsection renders the member unsuitable for continued military service based on the medical condition.
(2) A member determined pursuant to reevaluation under paragraph (1) to be unfit to perform the duties of the member’s office, grade, rank, or rating may be retired or separated for physical disability under this chapter.
(3) The Secretary of Defense shall be the final approval authority for any case determined by the Secretary of a military department to warrant administrative separation or denial of reenlistment based on a determination that the member is unsuitable for continued service due to the same medical condition of the member considered by a Physical Evaluation Board that found the member fit for duty.
(Added Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title V, § 534(a)(1), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4216; amended Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, § 527(a)–(c)(1), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1401, 1402.)
§ 1215. Members other than Regulars: applicability of laws
The laws and regulations that entitle any retired member of a regular component of the armed forces to pay, rights, benefits, or privileges extend the same pay, rights, benefits, or privileges to any other member of the armed forces who is not a member of a regular component and who is retired, or to whom retired pay is granted, because of physical disability.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 100.)
§ 1216. Secretaries: powers, functions, and duties
(a) The Secretary concerned shall prescribe regulations to carry out this chapter within his department.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (d), the Secretary concerned has all powers, functions, and duties incident to the determination under this chapter of—
(1) the fitness for active duty of any member of an armed force under his jurisdiction;
(2) the percentage of disability of any such member at the time of his separation from active duty;
(3) the suitability of any member for reappointment, reenlistment, or reentry upon active duty in an armed force under his jurisdiction; and
(4) the entitlement to, and payment of, disability severance pay to any member of an armed force under his jurisdiction.
(c) The Secretary concerned or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as prescribed by the President, has the powers, functions, and duties under this chapter incident to hospitalization, reexaminations, and the payment of disability retired pay within his department or agency.
(d) The Secretary concerned may not, with respect to any member who is a general officer or flag officer or is a medical officer being processed for retirement under any provisions of this title by reason of age or length of service—
(1) retire such member under section 1201 of this title;
(2) place such member on the temporary disability retired list pursuant to section 1202 of this title; or
(3) separate such member from an armed force pursuant to section 1203 of this title
by reason of unfitness to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank, or rating unless the determination of the Secretary concerned with respect to unfitness is first approved by the Secretary of Defense on the recommendation of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 100; Pub. L. 94–225, § 2(a), Mar. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 202; Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 511(45), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2924; Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, § 1405(25), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2623; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title XIII, § 1343(a)(7), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3992; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(a)(2), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1603; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title IX, § 903(f)(2), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 402; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title IX, § 901, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2617.)
§ 1216a. Determinations of disability: requirements and limitations on determinations
(a)Utilization of VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities in Determinations of Disability.—
(1) In making a determination of disability of a member of the armed forces for purposes of this chapter, the Secretary concerned—
(A) shall, to the extent feasible, utilize the schedule for rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including any applicable interpretation of the schedule by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; and
(B) except as provided in paragraph (2), may not deviate from the schedule or any such interpretation of the schedule.
(2) In making a determination described in paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned may utilize in lieu of the schedule described in that paragraph such criteria as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may jointly prescribe for purposes of this subsection if the utilization of such criteria will result in a determination of a greater percentage of disability than would be otherwise determined through the utilization of the schedule.
(b)Consideration of All Medical Conditions.—In making a determination of the rating of disability of a member of the armed forces for purposes of this chapter, the Secretary concerned shall take into account all medical conditions, whether individually or collectively, that render the member unfit to perform the duties of the member’s office, grade, rank, or rating.
(Added Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XVI, § 1642(a), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 465.)
§ 1217. Academy cadets and midshipmen: applicability of chapter
(a) This chapter applies to cadets at the United States Military Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy and midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy, but only with respect to physical disabilities incurred after October 28, 2004..
(b) Monthly cadet pay and monthly midshipman pay under section 203(c) of title 37 shall be considered to be basic pay for purposes of this chapter and the computation of retired pay and severance and separation pay to which entitlement is established under this chapter.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 100; Pub. L. 85–861, § 33(a)(7), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1564; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, § 555(b)(1), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1914; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, § 1071(a)(6), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2398.)
§ 1218. Discharge or release from active duty: claims for compensation, pension, or hospitalization
(a) A member of an armed force may not be discharged or released from active duty because of physical disability until he—
(1) has made a claim for compensation, pension, or hospitalization, to be filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or has refused to make such a claim; or
(2) has signed a statement that his right to make such a claim has been explained to him, or has refused to sign such a statement.
(b) A right that a member may assert after failing or refusing to sign a claim, as provided in subsection (a), is not affected by that failure or refusal.
(c) This section does not prevent the immediate transfer of a member to a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs for necessary hospital care.
(d)
(1) The Secretary of a military department shall ensure that each member of a reserve component under the jurisdiction of the Secretary who is determined, after a mobilization and deployment to an area in which imminent danger pay is authorized under section 310 or 351 of title 37, to require evaluation for a physical or mental disability which could result in separation or retirement for disability under this chapter or placement on the temporary disability retired list or inactive status list under this chapter is retained on active duty during the disability evaluation process until such time as such member is—
(A) cleared by appropriate authorities for continuation on active duty; or
(B) separated, retired, or placed on the temporary disability retired list or inactive status list.
(2)
(A) A member described in paragraph (1) may request termination of active duty under such paragraph at any time during the demobilization or disability evaluation process of such member.
(B) Upon a request under subparagraph (A), a member described in paragraph (1) shall only be released from active duty after the member receives counseling about the consequences of termination of active duty.
(C) Each release from active duty under subparagraph (B) shall be thoroughly documented.
(3) The requirements in paragraph (1) shall expire on October 28, 2014.
(Added Pub. L. 85–56, title XXII, § 2201(31)(A), June 17, 1957, 71 Stat. 160; amended Pub. L. 87–651, title I, § 107(c), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 508; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(a)(1), (4), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602, 1603; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 511, Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2280; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, § 1071(e)(1), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3509; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, § 618(c), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2160.)
§ 1218a. Discharge or release from active duty: transition assistance for reserve component members injured while on active duty
(a)Provision of Certain Information.—Before a member of a reserve component described in subsection (b) is demobilized or separated from the armed forces, the Secretary of the military department concerned shall provide to the member the following information:
(1) Information on the availability of care and administrative processing through community based warrior transition units.
(2) Information on the location of the community based warrior transition unit located nearest to the permanent place of residence of the member.
(b)Covered Members.—Subsection (a) applies to members of a reserve component who are injured while on active duty in the armed forces.
(Added Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, § 641(a), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2364.)
§ 1219. Statement of origin of disease or injury: limitations
A member of an armed force may not be required to sign a statement relating to the origin, incurrence, or aggravation of a disease or injury that he has. Any such statement against his interests, signed by a member, is invalid.
(Added Pub. L. 85–56, title XXII, § 2201(31)(A), June 17, 1957, 71 Stat. 160; amended Pub. L. 87–651, title I, § 107(c), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 509.)
[§ 1220. Repealed. Pub. L. 87–651, title I, § 107(d), Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 509]
§ 1221. Effective date of retirement or placement of name on temporary disability retired list
Notwithstanding section 8301 of title 5, the Secretary concerned may specify an effective date for the retirement of any member of the armed forces under this chapter, or for the placement of his name on the temporary disability retired list, that is earlier than the date provided for in that section.
(Added Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(28)(B), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1451; amended Pub. L. 89–718, § 3, Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1115.)
§ 1222. Physical evaluation boards
(a)Response to Applications and Appeals.—The Secretary of each military department shall ensure, in the case of any member of the armed forces appearing before a physical evaluation board under that Secretary’s supervision, that documents announcing a decision of the board in the case convey the findings and conclusions of the board in an orderly and itemized fashion with specific attention to each issue presented by the member in regard to that member’s case. The requirement under the preceding sentence applies to a case both during initial consideration and upon subsequent consideration due to appeal by the member or other circumstance.
(b)Liaison Officer (PEBLO) Requirements and Training.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations establishing—
(A) a requirement for the Secretary of each military department to make available to members of the armed forces appearing before physical evaluation boards operated by that Secretary employees, designated as physical evaluation board liaison officers, to provide advice, counsel, and general information to such members on the operation of physical evaluation boards operated by that Secretary; and
(B) standards and guidelines concerning the training of such physical evaluation board liaison officers.
(2) The Secretary shall ensure compliance by the Secretary of each military department with physical evaluation board liaison officer requirements and training standards and guidelines at least once every three years.
(c)Standardized Staff Training and Operations.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations on standards and guidelines concerning the physical evaluation board operated by each of the Secretaries of the military departments with regard to—
(A) assignment and training of staff;
(B) operating procedures; and
(C) timeliness of board decisions.
(2) The Secretary shall ensure compliance with standards and guidelines prescribed under paragraph (1) by each physical evaluation board at least once every three years.
(Added Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title V, § 597(a)(1), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2236.)