Section IV. MEDICAL BOARDS
5-16. GENERAL
The medical board is an Army Medical Department agency appointed by the
commander of a medical treatment facility. Its function is to assist in making disposition of
cases for which medical board action is required by higher authority and other cases when
the commander deems such action advisable. Medical boards do not establish disability
ratings nor recommend percentages of disability. These are the prerogatives of physical
evaluation boards.
5-17. APPOINTING AUTHORITY
Commanders of all Army medical treatment facilities and Regional Medical
Commands (RMCs) are authorized to appoint medical boards. The commander of the
U.S. Army Medical Command and the Commander, USAMEDCOM/U.S. Army Surgeon
General may also appoint medical boards.
Except as indicated below, MEBDs will be composed of two or more physician
members. One will be a senior medical officer with detailed knowledge of directives
pertaining to standards of medical fitness and disposition of patients, disability separation
processing, and the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). The other
member(s) will be familiar with these matters. When a board is considering conditions
which normally fall within the professional jurisdiction of the Dental Corps, the membership
of the board will include a dentist. Likewise, a board considering a psychiatric problem will
include a psychiatrist. In consideration of mental competency, the MEBD will consist of at
least three members, one of whom will be a psychiatrist.
5-19. USE OF MEDICAL BOARDS
Recommendations about the percentage of disability for members who are
physically unfit are not made by a medical board. These recommendations are made by
the physical evaluation board. Medical board action is required for:
a. Any case requiring a physical evaluation board referral except cases requiring a
TDRL periodic examination. A physical evaluation board referral is required for a member
who does not meet medical fitness standards for retention or whose fitness is
questionable. This includes a member who has two or more impairments which do not
individually render him incapable but which, together, cause sufficient disability to make
him unable to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank, or rating.
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