---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 14519"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "14519"
heading: "Deferment of retirement or separation for medical reasons"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/14519"
units:
  - "Subtitle E — Reserve Components"
  - "Part III — Promotion and Retention of Officers on the Reserve Active-Status List"
  - "Chapter 1407 — Failure of Selection for Promotion and Involuntary Separation"
---

# §14519. Deferment of retirement or separation for medical reasons

- (a) **Authority.—** If, in the case of an [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) required to be retired or separated under this chapter or [chapter 1409](/usc/10/chstE/ptIII/ch1409.md) of this title, the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-9) determines that the evaluation of the physical condition of the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) and determination of the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1)’s entitlement to retirement or separation for physical disability require hospitalization or medical observation and that such hospitalization or medical observation cannot be completed with confidence in a manner consistent with the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1)’s well being before the date on which the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) would otherwise be required to retire or be separated, the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) may defer the retirement or separation of the [officer](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1).
- (b) **Period of Deferment.—** A deferral of retirement or separation under [subsection (a)](#a) may not extend for more than 30 days after the completion of the evaluation requiring hospitalization or medical observation.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title V, § 522(a), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2540.)