DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
O
FFICE
O
F THE
S
ECRETA
RY
1000
NA
VY
PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350·1000
SECNAVINST 1850.4F
ASN (M&RA)
27 Jun 2019
SECNAV INSTRUCTION 1850.4F
From: Secretary of the Navy
Subj: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM
Encl: (1) References
(2) Responsibilities
1. Purpose. To establish policy, assign responsibilities, and
provide procedures for referral, evaluation, return to duty,
separation, or retirement of service members for disability per
references (a) through (h). This instruction is a complete
revision and should be reviewed in its entirety.
2. Cancellation. SECNAVINST 1850.4E.
3. Applicability. This instruction applies to the Offices of
the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV); Chief of Naval Operations
(CNO); Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC); Chief, Bureau of
Medicine and Surgery (CHBUMED); U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps
installations; Office of the Judge Advocate General, commands,
activities, and field offices; and all other organizational
entities within the Department of the Navy (DON).
4. Policy
a. The Disability Evaluation System (DES) is the mechanism
for determining fitness for duty, separation, or retirement of
service members because of disability, per references (a)
through (h).
b. Service members will proceed through one of two DES
processes: Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) or
Legacy Disability Evaluation System (LDES). Service members
will use the IDES process for all newly initiated cases referred
under the duty-related process except for Service members
approved for the LDES process. The objective for all DES
processes is to collaborate with the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) to ensure continuity of care, timely processing,
and seamless transition of the Service member from the DON to
