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SECNAV INSTRUCTION 1850.4E ENCLOSURE 3 PART 2
POLICIES CONCERNING REFERRAL OF CASES TO THE PHYSICAL EVALUATION BOARD (30 APRIL 2002)
3201 Criteria For Referral To The Physical Evaluation Board
a. Active Duty Members. As a general rule, an active duty member or a reservist on
extended active duty will be referred for disability evaluation only by a medical board that
has found the member's fitness for continued naval service questionable by reason of
physical or mental impairment. A determination of questionable fitness must be supported
by objective medical data displaying the nature and degree of the impairment. In those
cases where it is not practicable to have a medical board consider the case; e.g., the member
being hospitalized in a non-military hospital, the case may be referred by cognizant
authority to the PEB when available medical records show that the member's fitness for
continued naval service is questionable. In all cases, Navy and Marine Corps members
MEBs must be processed through a Navy MTF with Convening Authority for further
referral to the PEB.
b. Inactive-Duty Reservists
(1) Refer per reference (g) for disability evaluation those inactive-duty
reservists issued an NOE for disability benefits due to a disability that occurred while
serving on active duty or performing inactive duty training .
(2) An inactive duty reservist who has not been given an NOE and who has
been determined by the CHBUMED to be “Not Physically Qualified” (NPQ) for active duty
or retention will be referred, at the member's request, to the Informal PEB for final
determination of physical condition. If the member is then found Unfit by the Informal PEB
and assigned the PEB finding of NPQ, the member has the right to demand a Formal PEB.
The member will bear all associated travel, lodging, meal, and incidental costs to the Formal
PEB site.
(3) Cases of inactive duty reservists without an NOE may be processed into
the DES for a FIT/ UNFIT determination by the PEB under the following circumstances:
(a) While serving as an inactive duty reservists, the member is
ordered to active duty and serves a period of active duty greater than 30 days; and
(b) The member incurs or aggravates a condition during this period
of active duty and his/her medical records contain documentation as to the nature of
member's conditions including the approximate date of incurrence/aggravation. A
FIT/UNFIT determination will not be made if the PEB cannot determine from the member's
records that his/her condition(s) was incurred/aggravated during a period of active duty. In
such cases, a Physically Qualified/Not Physically Qualified determination will be made.
Recourse for former inactive duty reservists who incurred or aggravated a condition during a
previous period of active-duty, but do not meet the above requirements, is a petition to the
Board for Correction of Naval Records.
c. Specified Physical Impairments. A list of physical impairments that are normally
cause for referral to the PEB is contained in enclosure (8) to this instruction.
3202 Circumstances Not Justifying Referral To The Physical Evaluation Board
a. Lack Of Motivation. Lack of motivation alone for performance of duty does not
justify referral to the PEB.
b. Request for referral to the PEB by the service member.
c. Mere Presence Of Physical Defect. The mere presence of disease or injury alone
does not justify referral. Referral should take place only when, in the opinion of a medical
board, the defect may materially interfere with the member's ability to perform reasonably
the duties of his or her office, grade, rank, or rating/MOS on active duty. Also see enclosure
(3), part 3.
d. Inability To Meet Initial Enlistment/Appointment Standards. Once enlisted or
commissioned, the fact that a member may fall below initial entry or appointment standards,
specified in the reference (f) (MANMED), does not require that the case be referred for
disability evaluation.
e. Physical Disqualification For Special Duties. Physical disqualification from
special duties, such as flying, serving on submarines or in a medical specialty, does not
necessarily imply physical unfitness. Referral is appropriate only in cases where the
member's ability to reasonably perform active military service is in doubt.
f. Inability to Meet Physical Standards for Specific Assignment or Administrative
Requirement. The inability to meet screening criteria for a specific assignment or
administrative requirement; i.e., deployment, overseas or sea duty assignment, or
participation in PRT/PFT cycle, does not justify referral. Referral is appropriate only in
cases where the condition appears to be permanent in nature or of such a degree as to render
the member unable to return to naval service within a reasonable period.
g. Members Being Processed For Separation Or Retirement For Reasons Other
Than Physical Disability. Do not refer a member for disability evaluation who is being
processed for separation or retirement for reasons other than physical disability, unless the
member previously was found Unfit but retained on active duty in a Permanent Limited
Duty (PLD) status, or the member's physical condition reasonably prompts doubt that he or
she is Fit to continue to perform the duties of office, grade, rank or rating/MOS.
...
SECNAV INSTRUCTION 1850.4E ENCLOSURE 3 PART 3
POLICIES CONCERNING FITNESS VERSUS UNFITNESS (30 APRIL 2002)
3301 Standard Used for Disability Determination
The sole standard to be used in making determinations of physical disability as a
basis for retirement or separation is unfitness to perform the duties of office, grade, rank or
rating because of disease or injury incurred or aggravated while entitled to basic pay. Each
case is considered by relating the nature and degree of physical disability of the member to
the requirements and duties that member may reasonably be expected to perform in his or
her office, grade, rank or rating.
3302 General Criteria For Making Unfitness Determinations
a. A service member shall be considered Unfit when the evidence establishes that
the member, due to physical disability, is unable to reasonably perform the duties of his/her
office, grade, rank, or rating (hereafter called duties) to include duties during a remaining
period of Reserve obligation.
b. In making a determination of a member's ability to perform his/her duties, the
following criteria may be included in the assessment:
(1) Medical condition represents a decided medical risk to the health of the
member or to the welfare of other members were the member to continue on active duty or
in an Active Reserve status.
(2) Medical condition imposes unreasonable requirements on the military to
maintain or protect the member.
(3) Nature of service member's established duties during any remaining
period of reserve obligation.
...
SECNAV INSTRUCTION 1850.4E ENCLOSURE 8
MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEFECTS WHICH NORMALLY ARE CAUSE FOR REFERRAL TO THE PHYSICAL EVALUATION BOARD (PEB) (30 APRIL 2002)
8001 General
8002 Musculoskeletal System
8003 Organs Of Special Senses
8004 Systemic Diseases
8005 Respiratory System
8006 Cardiovascular System
8007 Gastrointestinal System
8008 Genitourinary System
8009 Hemic And Lymphatic Systems
8010 Skin And Cellular Tissues
8011 Endocrine System And Metabolic Conditions
8012 Nervous System
8013 Psychiatric Disorders
8014 Venereal Diseases
8015 Neoplasms
8016 Southwest Asia Theater Of Operations (SWATO ) Cases
8017 Dental.
...
SECNAV INSTRUCTION 1850.4E ENCLOSURE 8B Attachment (b) to Enclosure (8)
CONDITIONS NOT CONSTITUTING A PHYSICAL DISABILITY (30 APRIL 2002)
...
b. These conditions include but are not limited to those listed in paragraph 3 below.
c. Such conditions should be referred for appropriate administrative action under
other laws and regulations.
3. Developmental Defects And Other Specific Conditions
a. Enuresis.
b. Sleepwalking and/or Somnambulism.
c. Dyslexia and Other Learning Disorders.
d. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
e. Stammering or Stuttering.
f. Incapacitating fear of flying confirmed by a psychiatric evaluation.
g. Airsickness, Motion, and/or Travel Sickness.
h. Phobic fear of Air, Sea and Submarine Modes of Transportation.
i. Certain Mental Disorders including:
(1) Uncomplicated Alcoholism or other Substance Use Disorder.
(2) Personality Disorders
(3) Mental Retardation
(4) Adjustment Disorders
(5) Impulse Control Disorders
(6) Homosexuality
(7) Sexual Gender and Identity Disorders and Paraphilias
(8) Sexual Dysfunction
(9) Factitious Disorder
j. Obesity
k. Overheight
l. Psuedofolliculitis barbae of the face and/or neck.
m. Medical Contraindication to the Administration of Required Immunizations.
n. Significant allergic reaction to stinging insect venom.
o. Unsanitary habits.
p. Certain Anemias (in the absence of Unfitting sequelae) including G6PD
Deficiency, other inherited Anemia Trait, and Von Willebrand's Disease.
q. Allergy to uniformed clothing or wool.
r. Long sleeper syndrome.
s. Hyperlipidemia. | 
