# 2020-007 Careers, Release - Medical, Dental Services, Period of retention

Case summary

F&R Date: 2021-01-14

The grievor filed a grievance against the refusal to extend his period of retention so that he could have all of his dental treatments done. He requested that his release be postponed to allow him to finish his treatments or, if that was not possible, that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) continue to pay for his dental treatments after his release. 

The Initial Authority (IA) denied the grievance because the maximum term for a period of retention, for a Regular Force member with medical employment limitations, had already been granted. The IA pointed out that the grievor had agreed that he would be responsible for continuing his dental treatments at his own expense upon his release from the CAF. The IA also noted that the grievor could ask for a new medical review and that, if he was able to meet the Universality of Service principle, the decision to release him for medical reasons could be overturned. 

The Committee determined that, as per subsection 35.04(1) of the Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces, dental care cannot be covered by the CAF after a member's release date. Moreover, before he began his dental treatments, the grievor signed an informed consent form stating, among other things, that he would be responsible for continuing his dental treatments at his own expense if the treatments could not be completed before his release from the CAF. The grievor also had the option of having another medical assessment done because it had been more than four years since his last one. The grievor had already received the maximum term for retention, and the Committee concluded that he had been treated fairly and in accordance with the applicable regulations and policies. 

The Committee recommended that the grievor's release date be maintained and that the Final Authority not grant the grievor redress.