e. The Surgeon General. The Surgeon General establishes and interprets
medical standards for retention on active duty.
f. The Judge Advocate General. The Judge Advocate General renders opinions
on and interprets laws and regulations governing the physical disability evaluation system.
g. The Army Disability Rating Review Board. This board is a component of the
Army Council of Review Boards. It reviews petitions from retired personnel seeking
correction of percentage ratings for physical disability.
h. The Army Physical Disability Appeals Board (APDAB). The APDAB is
another component of the Army Council of Review Boards. It reviews disability evaluation
cases forwarded by USAPDA.
i. The Disability Review Council. This council reviews all physical disability
cases referred by the USAPDA. The council acts in an advisory rather than an adjudicative
capacity.
j. The Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM). The
MEDCOM ensures that Army medical treatment facilities fulfill their responsibilities in
connection with Army physical disability evaluation. It also designates the medical
treatment facilities responsible for accomplishing periodic medical examinations for
members on the temporary disability retired list.
k. All Commanders. Commanders must be familiar with the purposes, policies,
and procedures of the physical disability evaluation system. They must ensure that
physical defects which have an impact on an individual's performance of duty are reflected
in his evaluation report. They also must refer members to the servicing medical treatment
facility for medical evalua- tion when members are unable to perform duties of their office,
grade, rank, or rating because of physical disability. In addition, upon the request of the
MTF commander, they must provide information about members of their command who
are processed for physical disability evaluation.
l. Medical Treatment Facilities. Commanders of medical treatment facilities are
responsible for thorough and expeditious evaluation of members whose
medical conditions for retention or whose physical abilities to perform duty are
questionable. They are responsible for appointing an officer or civilian (of equivalent
grade) as the physical evaluation board liaison officer to counsel members. They must
also appoint medical boards to make determinations about patient's fitness, mental
competence, mental responsibility, and disposition and document medical board
proceedings referred to a physical evaluation board.
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