A medical board can be convened to determine an individual's mental competence for pay and records purposes when the member

• A. Has a specific psychiatric illness or illnesses
• B. Is not performing to the appropriate skill level and grade
• C. Display gross financial irresponsibility
• D. Has been under severe emotional stress

Answer: (A)

When a member is diagnosed with a psychiatric illness, a medical board can be convened to assess whether they remain mentally competent for pay and records purposes. The key idea is that a formal psychiatric diagnosis raises questions about the person’s ability to understand and manage financial matters, authorize payments, and maintain accurate records. The board reviews medical evidence and functional abilities to determine if the illness might impair decision-making, reliability, or judgment in financial duties, which can affect pay entitlements and official records. If a psychiatric illness is present, this establishes the condition under which a board authorization is considered, rather than relying on performance, stress, or isolated financial behavior alone. Other scenarios—like not performing at the right skill level, experiencing severe emotional stress, or showing financial irresponsibility without a diagnosed illness—do not automatically trigger this specific mental-competence review.