Physical Disability Evaluation System (DES) - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

MMSR-4 owns disability evaluation oversight per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 8 paragraph 8001 (Authority and Responsibility for Disability Evaluation). The MTF runs the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) per Chapter 8 paragraph 8202. The Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) at the Navy Department adjudicates fitness and disability rating per paragraphs 8203 (Informal PEB) and 8204 (Formal PEB). The Secretary of the Navy acts on PEB recommendations per paragraph 8207. The S-1 chief tracks the Marine through DES touchpoints. The S-1 officer signs by direction on routing actions. The IPAC outbound counselor coordinates Home Awaiting Orders status per paragraph 8304.

Source documents flow from the LIMDU determination triggering DES referral per Chapter 8 Section 1 paragraph 8111 (Medical Extension), the MEB record per paragraph 8202, the Informal PEB and Formal PEB actions per paragraphs 8203 and 8204, the Officer Disability Review Board (ODRB) per paragraph 8205, the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) per paragraph 8206, the SecNav action per paragraph 8207, and the counseling record per paragraph 8208. DES actions land in MCTFS as duty status changes (DES processing, Home Awaiting Orders, TDRL, retirement, or discharge) per Appendix E. Outputs include the MEB referral, the PEB record, the disposition (separation or retirement), the DD Form 214 per Chapter 1 Section 2, the disability rating documentation, and the closed OMPF.

Per MCO 1900.16 Chapter 8 paragraph 8201 (General), the DES is the Marine Corps process for evaluating fitness for continued service when a medical condition raises the question. Per paragraph 8202 (Medical Evaluation Boards), the MEB documents the medical condition, treatment, prognosis, and fitness considerations. Per paragraph 8203 (Informal PEB), the IPEB makes the initial fitness determination on the record. Per paragraph 8204 (Formal PEB), the Marine receives a personal appearance hearing on request. Per paragraph 8207 (Action by the Secretary of the Navy), SecNav acts on PEB findings. Per Chapter 8 Section 4 paragraphs 8401-8405, permanent disability retirement applies to disability ratings of 30 percent or higher with the qualifying service. Per Chapter 8 Section 5 paragraphs 8501-8507, the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) applies when the condition is stable but not stable for a final rating. Per Chapter 8 Section 6 paragraphs 8601-8608, disability discharge with severance pay applies to ratings less than 30 percent.

Trigger events

• LIMDU period exhausted triggering MEB referral per Chapter 8 paragraph 8111.
• MEB initiated for a medical condition unfitting for continued service per paragraph 8202.
• Marine requests Formal PEB after IPEB action per paragraph 8204.
• SecNav action on PEB findings per paragraph 8207.
• TDRL Marine reaches periodic physical examination per paragraph 8504.
• Home Awaiting Orders status per paragraph 8304.
• Concurrent administrative and disability proceedings per paragraph 8308.
• Death imminent processing per paragraph 8312.

Processing workflow

1. Receive MEB referral. Per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 8 paragraph 8202 (Medical Evaluation Boards), the MTF cuts the MEB record with diagnoses, treatment, prognosis, and fitness considerations.
2. Route the MEB record. The Marine reviews the MEB and submits a response per paragraph 8202.
3. Process Informal PEB action. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8203 (Informal PEB), the IPEB issues a finding on the record. The Marine accepts or demands a Formal PEB.
4. Process Formal PEB action. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8204 (Formal PEB), the Marine receives a personal appearance hearing and is permitted to call witnesses and submit evidence.
5. Run DES administrative procedures. Per Chapter 8 Section 3 paragraphs 8301-8312, manage Home Awaiting Orders per paragraph 8304, Voluntary Separation at EAS per paragraph 8305, leave per paragraph 8309, promotion per paragraph 8310, and disability tax liability exclusion per paragraph 8311.
6. Coordinate Home Awaiting Orders. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8304, the Marine awaits final determination in a designated status.
7. Process permanent disability retirement. Per Chapter 8 Section 4 paragraphs 8401-8405, MMSR-4 cuts the retirement order and the retirement ceremony per paragraph 8404.
8. Process TDRL transfer. Per Chapter 8 Section 5 paragraphs 8501-8507, cut the TDRL transfer per paragraph 8502, schedule periodic physical examinations per paragraph 8504, and process removal per paragraph 8507.
9. Process disability discharge with or without severance pay. Per Chapter 8 Section 6 paragraph 8601 (with severance pay) or paragraph 8602 (without severance pay), the procedure follows paragraph 8603 (Separation Procedures).
10. Prepare the DD Form 214. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraphs 1200-1205, prepare the DD Form 214 with the disability-driven SPD code and characterization.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• MCTFS. Holds the DES processing status.
• IDES Workflow. Tracks Marines through joint VA-DoD process.
• MEB Workflow. MTF Patient Administration system.
• PEB Office. Navy Department PEB at Washington Navy Yard or designated sites.
• MMSR-4. HQMC office overseeing disability evaluation.
• DFAS Retired and Annuitant Pay. Cuts disability retired pay.

Forms

• MEB Report. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8202.
• NAVMED 6100/5 (or current PEB form). PEB Action.
• Formal PEB Personal Appearance Request. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8204.
• Home Awaiting Orders Memorandum. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8304.
• Disability Retirement Order. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8402.
• TDRL Transfer Order. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8502.
• DD Form 214. Per Chapter 1 Section 2.

Common pitfalls

• MEB referral lag from LIMDU expiration. Per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 8 paragraph 8111 (Medical Extension), the MTF refers at LIMDU expiration. A lag leaves the Marine in stale LIMDU.
• Formal PEB request window missed. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8204, the request window is fixed. A missed window forfeits the personal appearance.
• Home Awaiting Orders not coordinated with IPAC. Per paragraph 8304, the IPAC manages the status and the Marine's location. A miscoordination leaves the Marine without orders or with conflicting orders.
• TDRL periodic physical examination missed. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8504, the periodic exam is mandatory. A missed exam triggers removal action per paragraph 8507.
• Disability tax liability exclusion not applied. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8311, the exclusion applies to combat-related disability per the statutory criteria.
• Dual processing missed. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8308 (Dual Processing) and Chapter 4 paragraph 4107 (Dual Processing), administrative separation and disability evaluation run concurrently per the order rules.

Decision points

• Fit for duty versus unfit. Per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 8 paragraph 8203 and paragraph 8204, the PEB decides on the record (IPEB) or after personal appearance (Formal PEB).
• Disability retirement (30%+) versus disability separation with severance (less than 30%). Per Chapter 8 Section 4 paragraph 8401 versus Section 6 paragraph 8601, the rating drives the disposition.
• Permanent disability retirement versus TDRL. Per Chapter 8 Section 4 paragraph 8401 versus Section 5 paragraph 8502, stability of the condition drives the disposition.
• Disability discharge with versus without severance pay. Per Chapter 8 Section 6 paragraph 8601 versus paragraph 8602, the years of service and the basis drive severance eligibility.
• EPTS discharge. Per Chapter 8 paragraph 8604 (Discharge for Disability Existing Prior to Service), EPTS discharge applies when the condition was not aggravated by service.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 8 (Separation and Retirement for Physical Disability) with Section 2 (DES) paragraphs 8201-8208, Section 3 (DES Administrative Procedures) paragraphs 8301-8312, Section 4 (Permanent Physical Disability Retirement) paragraphs 8401-8405, Section 5 (TDRL) paragraphs 8501-8507, and Section 6 (Discharge of Marines Not Physically Qualified) paragraphs 8601-8608. DODI 1332.18DODI 1332.18 sets DoD-level DES policy. MCO P1850.4MCO P1850.4 sets the Marine Corps Disability Evaluation System Manual. 10 USC Chapter 61 sets statutory authority. MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 6 covers Page 11 documentation. S-1 responsibilities sit at MCO 5000.14DMCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosures 4 and 5. The processing workflow maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0170-PERA-2002.

Related references

• MCO 1900.16 Chapter 8 paragraphs 8201-8608. Authoritative DES rules.
• DODI 1332.18. DoD-level DES policy.
• MCO P1850.4. Marine Corps DES Manual.
• 10 USC Chapter 61. Statutory authority for disability retirement and separation.
• MCO P1070.12K paragraph 4006. Page 11 documentation.
• MCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosures 4 and 5. S-1 DES responsibilities.
• NAVMC 3500.3E. T-R event 0170-PERA-2002.