NEW ORLEANS -- Marine Administrative Message 209/16 provides guidance for the use of Veterans Affairs disability ratings for Reserve Marines. The purpose is to provide awareness to commanders of VA disability ratings to ensure military duties are not assigned that may inadvertently impede VA health care efforts or cause health and safety concerns for any Marine.
Since April 22, 2016, administrative personnel are now able to receive disability ratings for Reserve Marines from COGNOS REPORTNET Operational Data Store Enterprise by accessing Marine OnLine.
Medical personnel who perform Physical Health Assessments on Reserve Marines should request a VA disability rating from supporting administrative personnel. Medical personnel may also ask Reserve Marines for details of their VA disability rating during the face-to-face assessment of their PHA. The VA disability ratings should be used as an additional PHA component when a determination for physical fitness is required.
VA ratings will not be solely used to disqualify Marines from unit affiliation. In addition, units will not be able to request Reserve Marines who are eligible for VA benefits to forego VA health care in order to serve in the Ready Reserve. For More information see MARADMIN 209/16.