More than 3,770 sailors and Marines who were medically discharged between Sept. 12, 2016, and June 11, 2018, may be eligible for medical retirement from the Defense Department under a federal judge’s ruling last week in Washington, D.C.
U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled Sept. 29 that a policy used by the Navy to help expedite its disability evaluation system was unlawful and those who were medically discharged, rather than retired, may be eligible for a review of their cases.
While service members who are discharged from the military for medical disabilities have access to Veterans Affairs health care and disability compensation, those who are medically retired receive military retirement pay as well as disability compensation and have access to many Defense Department benefits, including the Tricare health program and installation facilities such as commissaries and exchanges, fitness centers and recreation.
During two years covered by the review, the Navy implemented a policy that required Physical Evaluation Boards (PEBs) to consider only medical conditions specifically listed by a Medical Evaluation Board when weighing whether a service member could remain in the military, be medically discharged or medically retired.
Joe Biden’s Dept of Defense won’t act on that. They need money for Refugees, Illegal Aliens and Ukraine.