(4) Alcoholism. Alcoholism is a treatable, progressive illness characterized by
alcohol consumption which impairs the individual's physical and mental health, personal
relations, social conduct, or job performance.
(5) NLD-DOM. A LD finding of NLD-DOM results from a doctor's determination
that a member is totally incapacitated for more than 24 consecutive hours solely because
of alcohol or drug abuse. The remainder of the period of hospitalization, treat-ment, or
rehabilitation is administrative absence from duty and does not require an LD finding.
Hospitalization of less than 24 hours for abuse of alcohol or other drugs does not require
an LD finding. When the member is released from the MTF after being incapacitated for
more than 24 hours, the MTF commander, or his designee, will inform the member and the
unit commander by DF of the line of duty finding. The suggested format for this DF is
provided in figure 3-1. To preclude unauthorized access to this information, the DF is put
in a sealed envelope.
f. Unauthorized Absence (AWOL). Any injury or disease incurred while the
member is AWOL is not considered to be in line of duty unless the member was mentally
unsound at the inception of the unauthorized absence. If there is no further evidence of
misconduct other than the member's being AWOL, the correct finding is NLD-NDOM. To
establish that a member is AWOL for a LD determination, it must be shown that the
member (1) voluntarily left his organization or other place of duty without proper authority or
(2) was absent from a scheduled duty or restriction at the time of injury or disease. In a line
of duty determination the following conditions apply:
(1) If the driver (member) of a Government vehicle on an unauthorized trip is
injured during an unjustified deviation from his assigned route, the member is considered
to be AWOL.
(2) The findings of the member's immediate commander about his duty status
at the time of the injury, disease, or death is final.
g. Existed Prior to Entry Service (EPTS). When there is substantial evidence
that a disease, injury, or underlying condition existed before military service or evidence
that it happened between periods of active service, "EPTS" is added to the medical
diagnosis. A determination is also made on whether the condition is or is not aggravated
by military service. The finding for an EPTS condition is "Not in Line of Duty--Not Due to
Own Misconduct."
MD0755
3-6