UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 012028Z MAY 20 MID510001157902U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 129/20 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/MAY// SUBJ/GUIDANCE ON EVALUATION OF DEPLOYABILITY, TEMPORARY LIMITED DUTY, AND REFERRAL TO THE DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM (DES) DURING THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC// REF/A/MEMO/DASN/23APR20// REF/B/MEMO/ASD/24MAR20// REF/C/DOC/DOD/30JUL18// REF/D/DOC/OPNAV/25SEP18// REF/E/DOC/DOD/5AUG14// REF/F/DOC/SECNAV/23SEP19// REF/G/MEMO/BUMED/8NOV19// REF/H/DOC/SECNAV/14JUN19// REF/I/DOC/BUMED/28MAR12// REF/J/DOC/BUPERS/5NOV04// REF/K/DOC/BUPERS/11MAY07// REF/L/DOC/BUPERS/27APR07// REF/M/DOC/BUPERS/16APR07// REF/N/DOC/BUPERS/23MAR05// REF/O/DOC/BUPERS/11MAY07// REF/P/DOC/BUPERS/14NOV11// REF/Q/DOC/BUPERS/10NOV09// NARR/REF A IS DEPUTY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS) MEMORANDUM. REF B IS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (HEALTH AFFAIRS) MEMORANDUM. REF C IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1332.45, RETENTION DETERMINATIONS FOR NON-DEPLOYABLE SERVICE MEMBERS. REF D IS OPNAVINIST 1300.20, DEPLOYABILITY ASSESSMENT AND ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM. REF E IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1332.18, DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM (DES). REF F IS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY MANUAL, DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM MANUAL. REF G IS BUREAU OF MEDICINE MEMORANDUM, ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPLOYABILITY ASSESSMENT AND ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM. REF H IS SECNAVINST 6120.3A, PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL READINESS. REF I IS BUMEDINST 6110.14, DOCUMENTING AND REPORTING INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL READINESS DATA. REF J IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1200, LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU). REF K IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1202, LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU) AVAILABILITY PROCEDURES AND ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF L IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1204, ACCOUNTABILITY OF PERSONNEL ON LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU). REF M IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1206, LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU) FOLLOW-UP CARE. REF N IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1208, DISPOSITION AND ACCOUNTING OF PERSONNEL UPON COMPLETION OF LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU). REF O IS MILPERSMAN 1306-1210, NUCLEAR TRAINED AND SUBMARINE PERSONNEL ON LIMITED DUTY (LIMDU). REF P IS MILPERSMAN 1300-800, TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL TO OPERATIONAL DUTY (OPERATIONAL SCREENING). REF Q IS MILPERSMAN 1300-302, SUITABILITY AND SELECTION FOR OVERSEAS SERVICE.// RMKS/1. Pursuant to reference (a), this NAVADMIN announces interim policy guidance pertaining to deployability evaluation, temporary limited duty and Disability Evaluation System (DES) processes. COVID-19 is challenging the progress made over the last year to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the temporary limited duty and DES processes, which resulted in greater operational availability of our overall workforce. This NAVADMIN amplifies guidance published in reference (b), which directs limiting medical and dental care to only acute and emergent care to optimize medical readiness during this COVID-19 pandemic. We will maintain medical readiness through prioritization of medical assessments, delaying or extending assessments where able, and using telehealth to the maximum extent possible. Commands and Service Members, with support from Navy medicine, will continue to closely track/monitor unit and individual medical readiness. 2. All Department of the Navy (DON) personnel must continue to aggressively tend to their medical readiness in accordance with references (b) and (c). Specifically, reference (c) directs anyone non-deployable for greater than 12 months to undergo a retention determination. Further, references (c) and (d) detail how the Navy will process personnel who are non-deployable, with disposition falling into three categories derived from non-deployability determinations: (1) temporary limited duty, (2) administrative separation or (3) referral to the DES. Further, references (e) and (f) detail the DES process and reference (g) details the medical management of personnel who are non-deployable. 3. As defined in reference (a), if care for a Service Members is delayed due to medical access limitations, additional periods of temporary limited duty may be required. Medical personnel will continue to employ current methodology when making a decision to place Service Members on additional periods of limited duty namely do they expect resolution of the medical condition or will the Service Member be fully deployable within the next 12 months of their original placement on temporary limited duty. If the Service Member has a condition that will not likely improve, then referral to the DES is appropriate per references (e) and (f). 4. Referral to the Integrated Disability Evaluation System requires exams within both the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), while the Legacy DES may be completed without DVA input. In line with reference (a), if a Service Member is unable to schedule and complete DoD or DVA examinations, the Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (PEBLO) may request deferment until such time as the examinations can be performed. This deferment will lengthen the duration a Service Member will be in the DES and remain non-deployable. PEBLOs will ensure that existing DES cases with finalized clinical narrative summaries are submitted to the Physical Evaluation Board without delay. 5. The retention waiver process for Service Members who are non- deployable for greater than 12 months will continue as normal - the Navy Personnel Command Deployability Assessment and Assignment Branch (PERS-454) evaluates each case and forwards a recommendation to the Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel for final adjudication. Inability to complete a course of treatment while under limited duty because of COVID-19 will be considered during the retention determination process. 6. In line with reference (g), the Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery will prioritize medical readiness requirements to maximize operational effectiveness, including separation history and physical exams (SHPE). Telehealth should be used to the maximum extent possible to meet these enduring requirements. The due dates defined in references (h) and (i) for the annual Periodic Health Assessments (PHA) and annual dental examinations are extended by an additional 120 days for all Service Members. Every effort should be made to complete PHAs and dental exams due within 90 days of deployment. Pre-deployment and initial training vaccinations will continue, excluding Smallpox. All routine readiness immunizations and laboratory tests will be deferred with the exception of seasonal influenza. 7. References (j) through (q) provide specific details regarding limited duty, operational and overseas screening. As noted previously, each requirement is ongoing and BUMED continues to perform these vital functions. Any Service Member found unsuitable for operational or overseas assignment undergoes review by PERS-454. If PERS-454 non-concurs with the reason for unsuitability, the cognizant TYCOM/Fleet will be engaged for an additional review, which is typically a 15-day process. PERS-454 may override unsuitability determinations or direct other actions as specified in reference (d). When a Service Member is found unsuitable for an overseas assignment, PERS-454 works with BUMED and the gaining Medical Treatment Facility to validate the concern, if medically- related, for unsuitability and then works with detailers to amend the assignment or direct further actions per reference (d). 8. Service Member or family movements to facilitate care, DES appointments, pregnancy availabilities, expedited and safety transfers and Exceptional Family Member Program needs will continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, however, PERS-454 may recommend delay in movement due to COVID-19 influenced risk. 9. These temporary measures will enable us to focus our medical efforts on fighting COVID-19 while keeping all other processes as on track as possible to continue to maximize our warfighting readiness. 10. For questions concerning these policy changes, please contact PERS-454 at (901) 874-4210 or the MyNavy Career Center at (833) 330-6622 and or via e-mail at askmncc(at)navy.mil. 11. Released by VADM John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//