From what I've read iit is not mandatory.As of 2009 it was a proposed recommendation.Whether it became law I don't know.It's not listed as disqualifying on the FMCSA's website.What might be disqualifying would be the underlying cause of the stroke.First,look up "stroke".Wikipedia will do.You will see the underlying causes and secondary effects on the human brain.Print it out or write it down and go to the FMCSA's website and search under "medical program".This will list the disqalifying conditions that may effect your return to work.And your doctor has the final say as whether you are fit to drive ,not the employer.Good luck.

I had a TIA a few years ago, After my doctor released me to go back to work, I found out my employer had fired me after 2 weeks, and didnt tell me. I had papers from my stroke doctor and on my own got a new dot med card. But company told me it was a dot rule that I cant go back to driving for at least a year..I soon called the Chicago Dot headquarters for my midwest region and was told I couldnt be recertified till after extensive test from neurological doctors, because their take is if it happened once, it usually can happen again within a year. Well last september it was 4 years and still doing good. Just my personal experience

So if the DOT told you that you couldn't br recertified until extensive tests were performed from a neurologist, and they released you and your medical Dr. released you were you then allowed to be recertified to drive?