Title 14Coast GuardRelease 119-73

§2509 Prohibition of certain involuntary administrative separations

Title 14 › Subtitle SUBTITLE II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 25— - PERSONNEL; GENERAL PROVISIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 2509

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary cannot separate a Coast Guard member for a medical condition that a Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) already reviewed and found fit for duty. The Secretary may order a new PEB review if there is reason to think the condition now makes the member unfit. If found unfit, the member may be retired or separated under chapter 61 of title 10. "Covered individual" means a Coast Guard member the PEB has found fit for duty.

Full Legal Text

Title 14, §2509

Coast Guard — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary may not authorize the involuntary administrative separation of a covered individual based on a determination that the covered individual is unsuitable for deployment or other assignment due to a medical condition of the covered individual considered by a Physical Evaluation Board during an evaluation of the covered individual that resulted in the covered individual being determined to be fit for duty.
(b)(1)The Secretary may require a Physical Evaluation Board to reevaluate any covered individual if the Secretary determines there is reason to believe that a medical condition of the covered individual considered by a Physical Evaluation Board during an evaluation of the covered individual renders the covered individual unsuitable for continued duty.
(2)A covered individual who is determined, based on a reevaluation under paragraph (1), to be unfit to perform the duties of the covered individual’s office, grade, rank, or rating may be retired or separated for physical disability under chapter 61 of title 10.
(c)In this section, the term “covered individual” means any member of the Coast Guard who has been determined by a Physical Evaluation Board, pursuant to a physical evaluation by that board, to be fit for duty.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 427 of this title as this section. 2016—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 114–120 substituted “chapter 61 of title 10” for “this chapter”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

14 U.S.C. § 2509

Title 14Coast Guard

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73