Does a medical board have the power to discharge me? I want to stay but will they give me the option to do so?

Medical Boards have the job of evaluating the injury/illness/condition that put you on the board. You will get medically screened and their job is to determine whether you are fit for duty and if not if the injury is worthy of medical separation or medical retirement (30%+).

If you disagree with the determination set forth by the Med Board there is an appeals process. But to answer your question, yes they have the ability to recommend separation/retirement depending on the specifics.

I was medically retired in 2012. It happens to the best of us sometimes. The biggest thing you need to is look inside and have a heart to heart with yourself. If you want to stay in you should work for it but if you can't physically do the job they won't make excuses for you. But if the medical issue is severe enough you may need to come to terms with the reality of it. Don't let it define you if you get separated or retired. It's not the end of the world

The Medical board does not discharge you, they are reviewers for your condition and determine your fitness for duty. The MEB process begins when the service member’s physician refers them because of a medical condition that is not expected to improve enough for them to return to full duty within one year. Depending on your condition, you may not be fit for your current MOS or you may not be fit for continued military service - this will determine further options. There is a process called a MAR 2, which is like an exception to policy to continue to serve with your condition, but depends on the medical review of your condition. If you are found unfit for military service, you will be medically separated.

If they deem u r unfit physically or mentally then you will be boarded to remove you from the service. The process starts with a permanent profile indicating this. That is the objective you need to find out. If that is the case then get back with us and we can paint the picture in broader implications like the VA rating.