5-13. EVALUATION DIRECTED BY HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE
ARMY
When Headquarters, Department of the Army, is informed that a member appears
to be unfit to perform the duties of his office, rank, grade, or rating because of physical or
mental disability, the member is directed to have an examination at a medical treatment
facility designated by U.S. Army Health Services Command. Instructions may direct
evaluation by a medical board and disposition as recommended by the board or
evaluation by a medical board and referral to a physical evaluation board regardless of the
recommendation of the medical board.
Section III. PHYSICAL DISABILITY PROCESSING
5-14. LIMITATIONS
Policies and proceedings discussed below are applicable to all members of the
Army who undergo physical disability processing subject to these limitations:
a. Cases for Which Physical Disability Processing Is Not Applicable.
(1) Members charged with offenses for which dismissal or punitive discharge
may be adjudged by court-martial. An exception may be made when charges have been
referred to an authoritative body which cannot adjudge such a sentence.
(2) Members under sentence of dismissal or punitive discharge. However, a
member under suspended sentence of dismissal or punitive discharge may be processed
for physical disability, if otherwise eligible. If action is initiated to make the suspended
sentence legally void, processing for physical disability is discontinued and is not resumed
unless it is determined that the suspension will not be repeated.
(3) Cadets of the U.S. Military Academy.
b. Enlisted. Enlisted members who are subject to nondisability administrative
separation or retirement and who are also believed to be unfit because of physical
disability are, if otherwise eligible, processed for physical disability, except:
(1) When an enlisted member is subject to administrative discharge
proceedings which might result in an undesirable discharge and when the disability is not
the cause or substantial contributing cause of the member's conduct leading to
administrative discharge proceedings, the officer having general court-martial authority
determines whether physical disability or administrative processing will be followed.
(2) If an enlisted member is covered by (1) above and is also eligible for
retirement for any other reason, the member's cause is referred to Headquarters,
Department of the Army for a decision about the procedure to be followed.
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