R 032036Z JAN 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 003/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/PROCESSING OF SERIOUSLY INJURED MARINES IN THE DISABILITY
SYSTEM//
REF/A/DOC/CONGRESS/31DEC2000//
REF/B/DOC/SECNAV/23DEC1998//
REF/C/DOC/MANMED/20FEB1996//
REF/D/DOC/CMC/18JUL2003//
REF/E/DOC/CMC/11OCT1991//
NARR/REF A IS TITLE 10 U.S. CODE CHAPTER 61, LAWS REGARDING
SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT FOR PHYSICAL DISABILITY. REF B IS
SECNAVINST 1850.4D, DON DISABILITY EVALUATION MANUAL. REF C IS
NAVMED P-117, NAVY MANUAL OF THE MEDICAL DEPT, CH 112. REF D IS MCO
P1900.16E, MARCORSEPMAN. REF E IS MCO 1770.2A, NOTICE OF
ELIGIBILITY (NOE)//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE/APPLICATION. TO PROMULGATE GUIDANCE TO
COMMANDERS REGARDING THE CARE AND ATTENTION GIVEN TO OUR SERIOUSLY
INJURED/PARALYZED MARINES AND SAILORS SERVING WITH MARINES. PER
REFERENCES A THROUGH D, THE POLICY CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE APPLIES
TO ALL MARINES, OFFICERS AND ENLISTED, AND SAILORS ASSIGNED TO
MARINE CORPS UNITS, SERVING IN THE REGULAR MARINE CORPS, AND TO
MEMBERS OF THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY. FURTHER
REFERENCE TO MARINES IN THIS MARADMIN SHALL BE INCLUSIVE OF THOSE
SAILORS ASSIGNED TO MARINE CORPS UNITS, I.E. CORPSMEN, SEABEES AND
RELIGIOUS PROGRAMMER.
2. BACKGROUND
A. OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE WAR ON TERRORISM HAVE YIELDED
AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SERIOUSLY INJURED MARINES BEING
PROCESSED THROUGH THE DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM (DES). THIS
INCREASE, ALONG WITH THE NUMBER OF SERIOUS INJURIES SUSTAINED BY
MEMBERS FROM THE OTHER BRANCHES OF SERVICE, HAS RESULTED IN AN
INCREASING NUMBER OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION CLAIMS AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS (DVA). THIS INCREASE IN CLAIMS IS
EXTENDING THE PROCESSING TIME FROM A SERVICE MEMBER'S END OF ACTIVE
SERVICE TO THE TIME A MEMBER BEGINS TO RECEIVE DISABILITY
COMPENSATION FROM THE DVA.
B. THE NATURE OF SOME OF THE INJURIES ENDURED HINDERS MANY
MARINES FROM PURSUING SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT IN THE CIVILIAN SECTOR.
IN MANY CASES THE DISABILITY COMPENSATION WILL BE A MARINE'S ONLY
SOURCE OF INCOME.
C. UPON SEPARATION, MARINES MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR DISABILITY
COMPENSATION FROM THE DVA FOR SERVICE RELATED CONDITIONS.
D. A TYPICAL DVA DISABILITY COMPENSATION APPLICATION PACKAGE
WILL REQUIRE SUBMISSION OF A MEDICAL EVALUATION BOARD, PHYSICAL
EVALUATION BOARD (PEB) RESULTS, VA FORM 21-526, LINE OF DUTY
INVESTIGATION, CERTIFIED COPIES OF MEDICAL RECORDS, AND DD214.
COORDINATION BETWEEN THE COMMAND AND THE DVA WILL DETERMINE WHICH
DOCUMENTS ARE NECESSARY FOR DVA PROCESSING.
E. MARINE FOR LIFE (M4L) IS PRESENTLY DEVELOPING A PROGRAM TO
PROVIDE INFORMATION AND TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR INJURED MARINES
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
3. INTENT. TO GENERATE GREATER AWARENESS IN ORDER TO: ENSURE THAT
THE MARINE CORPS, AS A SERVICE, REMAINS PROACTIVE IN FACILITATING
THE PROCESSING OF OUR ACTIVE DUTY MARINES AND FORMER ACTIVE DUTY
MARINES THROUGH THE DES; AND, ENSURE THAT OUR MARINES RECEIVE THE
MAXIMUM BENEFIT OF MEDICAL CARE BEFORE CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF DISABILITY SEPARATION OR RETIREMENT.
4. GUIDANCE
A. WE WILL HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF OUR INJURED
WARRIORS. THE MARINE CORPS WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO TAKE CARE OF
OUR INJURED MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY
SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF FUNCTIONING AND
QUALITY OF LIFE. MARINES WHO SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURIES YET
DEMONSTRATE A STRONG DESIRE TO CONTINUE THEIR MARINE CORPS SERVICE
SHALL BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO REHABILITATE AND BE CONSIDERED
FOR CONTINUED SERVICE.
B. RESERVISTS SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY CANNOT BE COMPELLED TO
REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY BEYOND THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS WITHOUT
THEIR CONSENT. HOWEVER, RESERVISTS SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY WHO
SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN ON ACTIVE
DUTY TO HAVE THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS ADDRESSED THROUGH THE PEB. PER
REFERENCE E, RESERVISTS WHO SUSTAIN NON-SERIOUS INJURIES MAY BE
REFERRED TO THE NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY (NOE) PROGRAM.
5. ACTION
A. COMMANDERS.
(1) CONTINUE TO ENGAGE YOUR MARINES TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE
RECEIVING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RESPONSIVENESS WITH RESPECT TO
THEIR MEDICAL CARE OR PROCESSING THROUGH THE DES.
(2) WORK WITH THE MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITY (MTF) STAFF,
AND MARINE LIAISONS WHERE AVAILABLE, TO ENSURE TIMELY
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MARINE.
(3) COORDINATE WITH MTF STAFF, LOCAL DVA REPRESENTATIVES
AND/OR THE MARINE'S LEGALLY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES TO GENERATE
THE DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO INITIATE A DISABILITY COMPENSATION CLAIM IN
ORDER TO MINIMIZE DVA PROCESSING TIMES FOR SEPARATED MARINES. THE
COORDINATION DONE WHILE A MARINE IS ON ACTIVE DUTY WILL GREATLY
REDUCE WAITING TIME, AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON THE
MARINE.
(4) FORWARD CONCERNS TO CMC (MMSR-4) FOR FURTHER ACTION IF
IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE PROCESS IS UNRESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF
THE MARINE AND CANNOT BE MET THROUGH DIRECT COORDINATION.
B. CMC (MMSR-4). COORDINATE WITH THE PEB TO ENSURE THE PROMPT
PROCESSING OF OUR SERIOUSLY INJURED AND PARALYZED MARINES.
C. HEAD, M4L.
(1) DEVELOP THE RESOURCES TO EDUCATE, ADVOCATE FOR AND
SUPPORT INJURED MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM THE TIME OF INJURY
UNTIL THEIR NEEDS HAVE BEEN MET.
(2) TRACK THE LOCATION AND STATUS OF ALL INJURED MARINES.
(3) PROVIDE INFORMATION TO INJURED MARINES ON BENEFITS AND
SERVICES AVAILABLE.
(4) PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO REQUEST TO
AND WILL LEAVE ACTIVE DUTY.
(5) ENSURE CONTINUITY OF SUPPORT FROM THE MARINE CORPS
THROUGHOUT THE CARE, ADMINISTRATIVE, REHABILITATION AND TRANSITION
PROCESSES.
6. COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS/POINTS OF CONTACT
A. THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR ACTIVE DUTY DISABILITY SEPARATIONS
AND RETIREMENTS IS CAPT S. D. MAYS, MMSR-4 AT DSN 278-9308 OR COML
(703) 784-9308/9309. FAX NUMBER IS COML (703) 784-9834 OR DSN
278-9834.
B. THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE NOE PROGRAM IS MSGT M. S. GREGG
(RAM-3) AT DSN 278-9146.
C. THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR RESERVE MEDICAL HOLDS IS MGYSGT P.
A. ORSINO (MPP-60) DSN 378-9251.
D. THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR MARINE FOR LIFE IS MAJOR R. B.
ROBERSON (RA) DSN 378-9071.
7. KEEP ATTACKING, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//