RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-04089 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her honorable discharge be changed to a medical discharge. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: She believes she should receive a medical discharge based on her diagnosis of thyroid disease and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In support of her request, the applicant provides documents extracted from her military personnel and VA records and fact sheet on hypothyroidism. Applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 9 Aug 05, the applicant contracted her enlistment in the Regular Air Force. She was progressively promoted to the grade of airman first class having assumed the grade effective and with a date of rank of 1 Feb 06. On 28 Feb 07, the applicant was evaluated by the Life Skills Support Center (LSSC). The psychological evaluation revealed no evidence of mental defect, emotional illness, or psychiatric disorder of such severity to warrant processing through military medical channels. The evaluation also noted the applicant was competent for pay and records. She was mentally responsible for her behavior and possessed the mental capacity to understand and cooperate in any administrative or judicial proceedings. The mental health examination indicated the presence of a Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified with borderline and dependent traits. The Personality Disorder makes it difficult for her to assimilate to military life, renders her unstable and unreliable for service with resultant occupational disturbance. The evaluation further noted her Personality Disorder existed prior to service (EPTS). The applicant was also diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood which is a result of her Personality Disorder. The mental health evaluator recommended the applicant be administratively separated. Her adjustment disorder, complicated by her personality disorder, was considered severe enough to interfere with the performance of her military duties, making her a risk for further military service. On 19 Apr 07, the applicant’s commander notified her that he was recommending her discharge from the Air Force for a condition that interfered with military service, specifically mental disorders (adjustment and personality disorders). The specific reason for the discharge action was the 28 Feb 07 diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood and Personality Disorder. Her commander advised her of her rights in this matter. The applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification and after consulting with legal counsel waived her rights to submit a statement in her own behalf. On 26 Apr 07, the discharge authority directed discharge with an honorable discharge. The applicant was discharged on 9 May 07, with a narrative reason for separation of “Personality Disorder.” She was credited with one year, nine months, and one day of military service. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial noting the applicant’s personality disorder and adjustment disorder made it difficult for her to adjust and adhere to a military environment. Her condition made her unstable and unreliable for service. DPSOS found no evidence of an error or injustice in the processing of the applicant’s discharge. Furthermore, based on their review of the applicant’s master personal records, the discharge, to include the narrative reason for separation and type of separation was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge instruction and was within the discretion of the discharge authority. The complete HQ AFPC/DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit C. The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial of the request to change the applicant’s honorable discharge to a medical discharge. However, he does recommend changing the narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority.” It appears the applicant believes her recent diagnosis of Thyroid Disease was the cause of her maladaptive behavior and thoughts; and not the diagnosis of Personality and Adjustment Disorders which led to discharge. There was no evidence found or submitted that reflects the diagnosis for Adjustment Disorder was erroneous. The Medical Consultant notes that the applicant was diagnosed with Personality and Adjustment Disorders and that the Adjustment Disorder was not considered the primary narrative reason for separation. While it cannot be determined which of these conditions interfered most with the applicant's ability to function in the military environment, it is clear that a Personality Disorder label is likely to cause a greater prejudicial impediment to her occupational and social opportunities. Therefore, given the fact that there was an alternative choice of entering Adjustment Disorder as the primary reason for separation; and there was a remote possibility that a clinically undetectable hypothyroidism may have existed, the Medical Consultant believes the applicant’s narrative reason for separation should be changed to “Secretarial Authority.” The applicant has not provided sufficient evidence to show the diagnosis of PTSD interfered with her ability to perform her military duties to the extent that it would have been considered the cause to terminate her career. Nor, has the applicant provided any post-service psychiatric evidence that clears her of any existing mental dysfunction. Therefore, the Medical Consultant opines the applicant has not met the burden of proof of an error or injustice that warrants the requested changes to the record. The AFBCMR Medical Consultant's complete evaluation is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 22 Jul 11, for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or an injustice to warrant changing the applicant’s honorable discharge to a medical discharge. After a complete review of the evidence of record, we do not find evidence that supports that the applicant suffered from an unfitting condition that should be considered the basis for her separation. The BCMR Medical Consultant notes there is no evidence in the applicant’s medical records that substantiate that the diagnoses she received of Adjustment Disorder and Personality Disorder were erroneous. We also note that the psychological evaluation performed on the applicant noted that she was mentally competent to be held accountable for her behavior, which consequently constituted the basis for her discharge. Therefore, we agree with the recommendations of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR) and the BCMR Medical Consultant that the applicant’s request be denied. 4. Notwithstanding the above, we note the AFBCMR Medical Consultant opines that the narrative reason for separation of “Personality Disorder” is likely to cause the applicant a greater prejudicial impediment to her occupational and social opportunities. We agree, and note that this Board has changed the narrative reason in other cases where appropriate on this basis. Since the applicant was diagnosed with both Personality Disorder and Adjustment Disorder and the possibility exists that she did suffer from thyroid disease at the time of separation, although not to an unfitting extent, we believe it would be in the interest of justice to change the narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority.” Accordingly, we recommend her records be corrected to the extent indicated below. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT, be corrected to show that she was discharged on 9 May 2007 with a narrative reason for separation of "Secretarial Authority," rather than "Personality Disorder”. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-04089 in Executive Session on 17 Nov 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-04089 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 Oct 10, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Military Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSOS, dated 14 Apr 11. Exhibit D. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 23 Jun 11. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 22 Jul 11.