When a service member is dealing with a chronic medical condition, the process known informally as “med boarding” is the military’s formal mechanism for determining fitness for continued service. This system, officially called the Disability Evaluation System (DES), is the framework for deciding whether a condition prevents a member from performing their military duties and, if so, whether they will be separated or medically retired. Depression, when severe and persistent enough to interfere with a service member’s ability to function in their role, can absolutely initiate this process. The DES involves both a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) and a Physical Evaluation Board (PEB), ensuring those no longer medically capable are transitioned out with appropriate benefits.
Defining Unfit for Duty: Qualifying Criteria for Depression
The determination to initiate the DES hinges on whether the service member is “unfit for duty.” This does not mean simply having a diagnosis of depression; rather, it means the condition prevents the reasonable performance of the duties required by the member’s office, grade, rank, or rating. For a mental health condition like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) to qualify, it must cause a measurable, sustained loss of function that cannot be overcome with treatment while remaining in service.
The process begins when a military physician determines the service member has reached the Medical Retention Determination Point (MRDP). This is the point where the medical condition is considered stable, or when the member is unlikely to return to full duty within the next 12 months, even with continued care. Transient or easily managed depression that resolves quickly with medication and therapy will generally not meet this threshold. The condition must be chronic or severe enough to continuously impact the member’s ability to deploy, maintain security clearances, or handle the daily demands of their job.
The condition must directly compromise the ability to serve, often manifesting as significant functional impairment in areas like concentration, decision-making, mood regulation, and interpersonal relationships. The diagnosis must be established according to the standards of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The service member must also have been given a reasonable opportunity for treatment, which often includes trials of different medications and extensive psychotherapy, before being referred to the MEB. Only once all reasonable attempts at rehabilitation have failed to restore fitness for duty will the condition be considered “unfitting.”
The Medical Evaluation Board and Physical Evaluation Board Process
The DES is a two-tiered evaluation process that begins with the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) at the local military treatment facility. The MEB is an informal review where medical professionals examine the service member’s entire medical record, including the physician’s summary and the commander’s statement on duty performance. The board documents the extent of the condition and determines if it meets the medical retention standards for continued military service.
If the MEB concludes the service member meets retention standards, the process ends, and the member returns to duty. If the MEB finds the member does not meet the standards, the case is referred to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) for the formal fitness determination. At this stage, the member is assigned a Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO) and undergoes Compensation and Pension (C&P) examinations conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The PEB is a formal board that reviews the MEB findings, C&P exam results, and all other evidence to make the final determination of “Fit” or “Unfit” for military service. Unlike the MEB, the PEB’s determination is a legal finding. If the PEB finds the member “Unfit,” they proceed to the final stage where the nature and extent of their disability compensation are determined.
Potential Outcomes and Final Determinations
For a service member found “Unfit” for duty due to depression, the PEB assigns a disability rating to the unfitting condition, which dictates the final outcome. This rating is based on the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), which rates mental health conditions based on the severity of occupational and social impairment. The rating criteria range from 0% for a diagnosis with no functional impairment to 100% for total impairment.
The final determination falls into one of three primary categories, all requiring the condition to be service-connected. If the total disability rating for the unfitting condition is less than 30%, the service member is separated from the military with severance pay. This one-time payment is calculated based on the member’s years of service and their final base pay.
If the total disability rating is 30% or higher, the service member is medically retired. If the condition is considered stable and Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) has been reached, the member is placed on the Permanent Disability Retirement List (PDRL). This grants them permanent military retirement benefits, including monthly pay and TRICARE medical coverage.
If the condition is not considered stable, the member is placed on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL). Placement on the TDRL requires the service member to undergo periodic re-evaluations, not to exceed a statutory maximum of five years. During this time, the member receives retirement benefits while their condition is monitored. At the end of the TDRL period, the member is either returned to duty, separated, or transferred to the PDRL with a final disability rating.