RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:			DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2015-03551
		
   						COUNSEL:  NONE

						HEARING DESIRED:  NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS:

His discharge for Personality Disorder be changed to a medical discharge.

APPLICANT CONTENDS:

The statement “Personality Disorder” is a detriment to his employment opportunities.  When he entered basic training he was having marital problems, and he felt he could get away from them, but he couldn’t.  His problems affected his training, and he was given a “General Discharge” (Sic) due to Personality Disorder.  He has worked as a Juvenile Detention Officer and a Residential Advisor for the Job Corp.  He wants to apply to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but feels his discharge hurts his chances of getting hired.  

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 28 Aug 96. 

On 30 Aug 96, the Inpatient Psychiatry Service diagnosed the applicant with Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood, and recommended an entry level separation (ELS).

On 12 Sep 96, the applicant’s commander recommended him for an ELS for a condition which interferes with military service—Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood.  The applicant acknowledged he was notified of his right to counsel, and to submit statements on his own behalf.  The case was reviewed and determined to be legally sufficient.  

On 16 Sep 96, the discharge authority directed the applicant be separated with an ELS.  

On 28 Sep 96, the applicant was furnished an ELS with “uncharacterized” character of service, a narrative reason for separation of “Personality Disorder,” and was credited with 21 days of active service.

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the memoranda prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPRs), which are included at Exhibits C, D, and G.

AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant recommends partially granting the applicant’s request, indicating there is evidence of an error or injustice.  The applicant was not given a General discharge, he was given an ELS.  He was not diagnosed with a Personality Disorder, he was diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood; the former which is developmental in origin and would likely have manifested in some form prior to military service, and the latter which, in its acute form, is representative of a maladaptive response to a given intrinsic or external stressor.  In some cases, the rigors of the military training environment itself may precipitate such a response, while in other cases an external stressor may be the aggravating cause.  Poor adaptation to military service, in the case under review, was characterized as due to an Adjustment Disorder.  It is generally recognized that once removed from or upon elimination of the precipitating stressor, the individual commonly returns to his or her baseline normal pattern of behavior; but is at risk of becoming a chronic disorder, or other mental health diagnosis, if the stressor is not removed and the disturbance of mood continues.

Addressing the applicant’s narrative reason for separation, it has been recognized in the distant past Personality Disorder was the default diagnosis entered upon an individual’s DD Form 214.  This practice has since been remedied by the Department of Defense such that Adjustment Disorder now may stand as a distinct reason for separation with its own SPD code, e.g., JFY, entered on the DD Form 214 when appropriate.  Thus, the Medical Consultant opines the reason for separation and SPD code as emblazoned on the applicant’s DD Form 214 are both erroneous and unjust.  The question now is how to characterize an appropriate remedy.  The Board may elect to change the record to reflect the applicant was discharged due to Adjustment Disorder, which would be both accurate and present a less negative influence on employment opportunities; or the Board may change the reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority,” and a change in SPD code to “KFF,” if deemed more appropriate, noting the near two decades the error has existed.  In either case, the service evidence does not justify a change to a medical discharge, as requested by the applicant.

A complete copy of the AFBCMR Medical Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPFDD concurs with the reasoning provided by the AFBCMR Medical Consultant and recommends denying the request to change the applicant’s separation to a medical discharge because the applicant has provided no evidence to justify changing his separation in this respect.  

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPFDD evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

Copies of the Air Force evaluation and the AFBCMR Medical Consultant evaluation were forwarded to the applicant on 4 Apr 16 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The AFBCMR Psychiatric Advisor recommends partially granting the applicant’s request, indicating there is evidence of an error or injustice.  Adjustment Disorder has been, for decades, listed in Air Force and Department of Defense policies as a medical condition not considered a compensable disability by the military Disability Evaluation System.  Although a recent revision of Department of Defense policy [April 2013] now acknowledges an individual with a Chronic Adjustment Disorder renders the individual eligible for processing via a Medical Evaluation Board, the Acute Adjustment Disorder [that is a diagnosis initially made based upon an identifiable stressor, usually lasting no more than 6 months] continues to be held as non-compensable and non-ratable by the Military Departments.  

When it has been determined an Acute Adjustment Disorder is so severe as to significantly interfere with an individual’s ability to perform military service, the member is susceptible for an involuntary discharge, under authority of AFI 36-3208, Administrative Separation of Airmen.  The applicant was diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder by a military psychiatrist.  This diagnosis is only applied when the response to stress is “OUT OF PROPORTION” to what normally would be expected in that particular situation.  The applicant’s narrative reason for separation lists “Personality Disorder” as opposed to Adjustment Disorder.  The applicant was, instead, diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood by the inpatient psychiatrist.  The provider also specifically indicated the applicant does not have a Personality Disorder.  

This Psychiatric Advisor fully agrees with the recommendation offered by AFBCMR Medical Consultant, and recommends the applicant’s DD Form 214 be changed to reflect the narrative reason for separation as “Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood,” with strong consideration for changing the reason for discharge to Secretarial Authority.

A complete copy of the AFBCMR Psychiatric Advisor evaluation is at Exhibit F.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF ADDITONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the AFBCMR Psychiatric Advisor additional evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 21 Oct 16 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit G).  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES:

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 injustice concerning the applicant’s request for a medical discharge.  We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), the AFBCMR Medical Consultant and the AFBCMR Psychiatric Advisor and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice concerning the type of separation.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief.

4.  Notwithstanding our findings above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice concerning the applicant’s request to change his narrative reason for separation.  In this respect, the Board agrees with the opinions and recommendations of the AFBCMR Medical Consultant and the AFBCMR Psychiatric Advisor and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice regarding his narrative reason for separation.  Further, the Board acknowledges the recommendations to change the applicant’s narrative reason for separation on his DD Form 214 to “Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood,” as well as the alternative recommendations to consider changing the narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority.”  Based upon the extremely short period of time the applicant served on active duty, we are convinced changing the narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority” constitutes more appropriate relief.  Therefore, we recommend the applicant's records be corrected as indicated below.	

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show on 28 September 1996, the applicant was furnished an Entry Level Separation, with “uncharacterized” character of service, a separation program designator (SPD) code of “KFF,” and a narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority.”

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2015-03551 in Executive Session on 15 Dec 16, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	Panel Chair
	Member
Member

All members voted to correct the records as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 Aug 15, w/atchs.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 3 Feb 16.
	Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPFDD, dated 17 Mar 16.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 4 Apr 16.
Exhibit F.  Memorandum, AFBCMR Psychiatric Advisor, dated 18 Oct 16.
	Exhibit G.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Oct 16.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of AFI 36-2603 (Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 865.1), it is certified that a quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter.