This has been posted on the site before but just wanted to post this for anyone who's being told by the AR or NG that they HAVE TO have a LOD investigation completed before they can start a MEB process. You don't necessarily need an LOD or need to get an LOD completed, IF you were on orders for 30 days or more. The AR or NG state medical command or AR medical command should provided you with a IDRM - Integrated Disability Referral Memorandum instead.
Get a copy of the orders you were on, during the time you were injured. If those orders are Active Duty (ADOS, ADSW, TITLE 32, TITLE 10, etc) for 30 days contiguous (continuous without stopping , or two back-to-back orders with no stoppage.) Then keep reading. If your orders were 30 days or less, then you WILL need an LOD completed and cannot use the below to aid you.
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AR 600-8-4 Line of Duty Policy, Procedures, and Investigations
Section 5 (Chapter 5 Line of Duty Determination Procedures for Soldiers of the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve )
Subsection 5–4. Entitlement to medical care, pay and allowances for Soldiers who incur an injury, illness, disease, or incur aggravation in the line of duty
Example #1: LOD not needed:
SGT Snuffy was on ADSW / ADOS for 32 days straight. Broke his leg while in the motor pool doing maintenance while serving on those orders Command forgot to do a LOD or won't do it. - LOD is not needed per AR 600-8-4 5-4 b
Example #2: LOD needed - gross negligence:
SGT Snuffy was on ADOS for 32 days. Broke his leg while in the motor pool. He tried to impress his E3 by doing a backflip off the back of the trailer. LOD is required because " -...that is not the result of the RC Soldier’s gross negligence or misconduct."
Example #3 - LOD needed:
SGT Snuffy was on ADOS for 28 days straight. Broke his leg while in the motor pool doing maintenance while serving on those orders. Command forgot to do a LOD or won't do it. - LOD IS needed, as the orders are 30 days or less in length.
Example #4: LOD not needed:
1LT SusMan was on a deployment to Djibouti for 9 months. Pulled his back while climbing out of a "Deuce and a Half" truck while serving on those orders. Command forgot to do a LOD or won't do it. - LOD is not needed per AR 600-8-4 5-4 b
Get a copy of the orders you were on, during the time you were injured. If those orders are Active Duty (ADOS, ADSW, TITLE 32, TITLE 10, etc) for 30 days contiguous (continuous without stopping , or two back-to-back orders with no stoppage.) Then keep reading. If your orders were 30 days or less, then you WILL need an LOD completed and cannot use the below to aid you.
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AR 600-8-4 Line of Duty Policy, Procedures, and Investigations
Section 5 (Chapter 5 Line of Duty Determination Procedures for Soldiers of the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve )
Subsection 5–4. Entitlement to medical care, pay and allowances for Soldiers who incur an injury, illness, disease, or incur aggravation in the line of duty
"This guidance establishes criteria for initiating and processing LODs to ensure access to care and a timely resolution of Soldiers’ medical conditions."
AR600-8-4 5-4 b. "A Soldier serving a period of active duty of more than 30 days is entitled to medical and dental care in any facility of any uniformed Service (pursuant to 10 USC 1074). LOD investigations are not required for injuries, illnesses, or diseases incurred while the Soldier was serving a period of active duty of more than 30 days that is not the result of the RC Soldier’s gross negligence or misconduct."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Example #1: LOD not needed:
SGT Snuffy was on ADSW / ADOS for 32 days straight. Broke his leg while in the motor pool doing maintenance while serving on those orders Command forgot to do a LOD or won't do it. - LOD is not needed per AR 600-8-4 5-4 b
Example #2: LOD needed - gross negligence:
SGT Snuffy was on ADOS for 32 days. Broke his leg while in the motor pool. He tried to impress his E3 by doing a backflip off the back of the trailer. LOD is required because " -...that is not the result of the RC Soldier’s gross negligence or misconduct."
Example #3 - LOD needed:
SGT Snuffy was on ADOS for 28 days straight. Broke his leg while in the motor pool doing maintenance while serving on those orders. Command forgot to do a LOD or won't do it. - LOD IS needed, as the orders are 30 days or less in length.
Example #4: LOD not needed:
1LT SusMan was on a deployment to Djibouti for 9 months. Pulled his back while climbing out of a "Deuce and a Half" truck while serving on those orders. Command forgot to do a LOD or won't do it. - LOD is not needed per AR 600-8-4 5-4 b