RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-03232 XXXXXXXXXXXX COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her Separation Program Designator (SPD) code of JFX, which denotes “Conditions that Interfere with Military Service - Not Disability - Personality Disorder,” be changed. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: She had a nervous breakdown as a result of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and was misdiagnosed at the time of her discharge. She was uncomfortable discussing her MST because she felt there would be repercussions from senior personnel. A change in her separation code would allow her to receive Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) benefits. In support of her request, the applicant provides a copy of a letter from a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) psychologist dated 11 July 2014. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 20 November 1981, the applicant entered the Regular Air Force. AF Form 565, Record of Inpatient Treatment, dated 8 March 1983, indicates the applicant was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with mixed features and mixed personality disorder with borderline and histrionic features. On 1 April 1983, the applicant’s commander notified her that he was recommending she be discharged under the provisions of AFR 39- 10, Administrative Separation of Airmen, for a “Personality Disorder.” The specific reason for this action was on 5 March 1983, the applicant attempted suicide by cutting her wrists. Psychologists diagnosed her with a mixed personality disorder and determined she was unsuited for continued military service. On 23 March 1983, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the discharge notification, consulted with counsel and waived her right to submit statements in her behalf. On 5 April 1983, the Staff Judge Advocate found the discharge legally sufficient. On 11 April 1983, the discharge authority directed the applicant be discharged with an honorable discharge. Probation and rehabilitation was considered and deemed inappropriate. On 15 April 1983, the applicant received an honorable discharge with an SPD code of JFX. She served 1 year, 4 months and 26 days on active duty. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSOR recommends denial. The applicant has not submitted a timely application. It has been approximately 31 years since her discharge and she has not provided a valid reason why she did not submit a request within three years of her discharge Additionally, based on the documentation in her master personnel records, the discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirement of the discharge regulation and was within the discretion of the discharge authority. AFR 39-10, paragraph 5-11 states that airmen may be discharged based upon physical or mental conditions when the commander determines the condition interferes with assignment or duty performance. The commander was provided a report that indicated the applicant was referred for evaluation in response to her hospitalization after slashing her forearms with a piece of broken glass. The report stated the applicant was clearly unsuited for continued service in the Air Force and that prompt administrative separation was recommended. As a result, discharge action was initiated. Therefore, the SPD code and narrative reason for separation are correct as indicated on the applicant's DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOR evaluation is at Exhibit C. The BCMR Clinical Mental Health Consultant recommends denial. The diagnostic opinions expressed by the evaluating psychologist in 1983 are based in adequate history and are consistent with the diagnostic doctrine and information available at the time. Subsequent discharge actions were appropriately subjected to, and passed, legal review and the discharge appears to have been in keeping with then-current directives and policies. The applicant claims she was misdiagnosed at the time of her separation and that her SPD code should be changed to reflect that her symptoms at the time of separation were the result of MST, and not a personality disorder. She presents as evidence a letter from a DVA psychologist dated 11 July 2014 (over 30 years after discharge). In the letter the psychologist asserts the applicant’s past behavioral problems could have been the result of MST. The letter also confirms the DVA’s position that the applicant meets criteria for MST related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The letter goes on to iterate the applicant’s report that she was “successful in her performance prior to the MST and resulting mental health decompensation.” The letter does not specify when the alleged MST occurred. No other evidence is presented to corroborate the applicant’s claim of MST and resultant emotional decompensation. A complete copy of the BCMR Clinical Mental Health Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit D. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The OPR states her application is untimely; however, she was unable to discuss her rape until 2013. She pushed it aside and tried to go on with her life. It caused her two divorces, a life of depression, and living in seclusion. She is currently undergoing therapy and is getting her life back to normal. The OPR also states, “we found no evidence of an injustice in the applicant's discharge processing.” However, her evidence should be used to determine how her discharge would have been affected if the evidence was available in 1983. She entered the Air Force without any health issues. However, she was raped by a supervisor in April 1982 and a senior airman advised her not to report it. Shortly after her rape, she began having recurrent health problems which were consistent with MST, yet aside from her diagnosis of “Personality Disorder;” she was not given any mental health care. In further support of her request the applicant provides copies of her medical records, DVA documents and various other documents related to her appeal. The applicant’s complete response with attachments is at Exhibit F. 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an injustice to warrant changing the applicant’s narrative reason for separation. After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances of this case, sufficient evidence did not establish to our satisfaction the applicant was improperly diagnosed or that her separation was in error or contrary to the prevailing instruction. Further the Board does not find the DVA determination, made years after the applicant’s discharge, sufficient to convince us that her personality disorder should not have been the basis for her discharge at the time it occurred. However, after careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances of the applicant's case, including her letter from the DVA asserting it is common for individuals to demonstrate symptom patterns consistent with a personality disorder immediately following a sexual trauma, we are persuaded that corrective action is warranted. In that respect, the Board believes the SPD code “JFX” in this case constitutes an injustice and finds it appropriate to provide relief to the extent necessary to eliminate further negative effects of her discharge on social and occupational opportunities where presentation of a DD Form 214 is requested. The Board also notes that her diagnosed personality disorder did not manifest itself in the form of any serious misconduct. Therefore, in the interest of justice, the Board recommends that her narrative reason for separation be changed to “Secretarial Authority” and the corresponding SPD code to “JFF.” Accordingly, we recommend that 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 APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 15 April 1983, she was discharged with a narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority” and a Separation Program Designator code of “JFF.” The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-03232 in Executive Session on 3 December 2015 and 10 December 2015, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the record as recommended. The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 7 August 2014, w/atch. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSOR, dated 27 October 2014. Exhibit D. Memorandum, BCMR Clinical Mental Health Consultant, dated 22 October 2015. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 October 2015.