Line of Duty Determination

A line of duty determination, or LOD, is used to establish whether a military member’s illness, injury, disease or death is duty-related, thus entitling the member to certain benefits.

Injuries and illnesses are presumed to be in the line of duty. Exceptions include:

• The illness, injury or disease existed prior to service

• The illness, injury or disease was the result of the member’s misconduct

• The member was absent without authority

Minor injuries and illnesses are normally addressed through an administrative entry into the member’s medical record.

More serious injuries and illnesses requiring long-term treatment or that are likely to result in permanent disability require an investigation and finding with respect to the member’s duty status and contribution to the condition, if any. Such an informal determination can later result in a formal investigation in cases of suspected misconduct, doubtful circumstances, or where the member was absent without authority.

For National Guard members serving on drill weekends, duty status includes direct travel to and from the place of duty. If the member lives outside the "local area," duty status also includes overnight stays immediately before and during the training periods.

A determination may entitle the member to medical and dental care and a portion of monetary pay and allowances. The amount of pay and allowances will not exceed the total of pay and allowances due the member for a similar period of active duty, nor will such pay be paid for more than 6 months unless approved by the Service Secretary. Additionally, the monthly entitlement may not exceed the member’s demonstrated loss of earned income from nonmilitary or self-employment.

LOD determinations cannot be used for disciplinary action.