Can a service member be separated while on light duty?

2022-01-01T20:43:42-05:00

So I'm leaving this fairly vague so as not to get to far into my own personal medical information. Back when I was in I had some medical stuff happen around the time I transitioned to my second command. While I was on light duty my PCM noticed that I had high liver enzymes. Given that I have a very high family history of liver diseases (I'm the only person still alive in my family that has a diagnosed liver disease), she wanted to do some testing. However, because I was overweight and among other "issues", my command separated me while I was on light duty before we could figure out why my enzymes were high other than the possibility that it could be from fatty liver (I had put on some weight quickly in about a 10 day period). Well, a few years later I found out that my enzymes weren't high from fatty liver, but because I had PSC. This would have been caught while I was in the service and should have led to a medical discharge. It wasn't until recently that I found out there are some potential problems from my command separating me so quickly. So, as the title states, can a command separate a service member while on light duty and working through medical conditions?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2022 8:58 PM

2022-01-01T20:58:00-05:00

Can they? Yes, they can. The military requires us to maintain physical readiness (to include meeting HT/WT standards) even while on light duty. As to the validity of your Chapter I can't speak of, but to answer the basic question you asked...yes they can

Response by SSG Dale London made Jan 2 at 2022 7:15 PM

2022-01-02T19:15:46-05:00

Yes, they can separate you. But here's the not so bad news: since it was diagnosed and is presumably in your military medical records, you can make a claim for compensation from the VA. I suggest you contact someone in a Veterans Service Organisation like the VFW or DAV and ask their advice. They can help you file your claim and they will do it completely without charge.
One warning: there are loads of unscrupulous "services" out there who will "help" you file your claim for a fee or a portion of your disability payment. Be aware that not only is it illegal for them to do this but it is also unnecessary. Both the VFW and DAV help thousands of veterans successfully file with the VA every year.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2022 10:18 AM

2022-01-06T10:18:54-05:00

You cannot be separated while in a "Limited Duty" status, which is different than light duty. Light duty is a recommendation from medical to a commander to reduce things like standing, walking, lifting heavy items, etc. If the command has a reason to separate you while you are in a light duty status, then you will be separated. Limited duty changes your accounting code from 100 to 105 and if you are coming up on your EAOS, you will be extended on active duty until you either have a medical evaluation board (MEB) or you are cleared for full duty and returned to accounting code (acc) 100.

Why were you separated? Were you at the end of your contract, hit your high year tenure, or did you have an admin separation board? Did you have NJP? Did your last eval have a recommendation for retention checked (block 47)? If you reach the end of your contract and you are not recommended for retention, you cannot reenlist or extend on active duty. Again, light duty is very different from limited duty in the Navy (can't speak to other services), so you may be getting confused by the similar terms. Light duty is a piece of paper from the doctor to your commanding officer, while limited duty is a naval message sent to your command and PERS.

As SSG Dale London mentioned, seek assistance from DAV or VFW to work any ongoing medical issues through the VA. Good luck!