§1177 Members Diagnosed with or Reasonably Asserting Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury: Medical Examination Required Before Administrative Separation

Summary

If a service member was deployed overseas for a contingency operation or was sexually assaulted in the past 24 months, and a qualified clinician has diagnosed them with PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI) or the member reasonably says they have PTSD or TBI from that service or assault, they must get a medical exam to check for PTSD or TBI. The Secretary of Defense sets the rules for these exams. The member cannot be administratively separated with anything other than an honorable discharge, including being separated instead of facing court‑martial, until the exam results are reviewed by the officials handling the separation. PTSD exams must be done by a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed clinical social worker, or psychiatric advanced practice nurse. TBI exams can be done by a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other appropriate health professional. The exam must decide if PTSD or TBI effects should reduce blame or change the official description of the member’s service. These rules do not apply to courts‑martial or other UCMJ proceedings.