MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           25 November 1998                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-11224

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. William Blakely		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James E. Vick		Chairperson	
	Mr. John N. Slone		Member	
	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  In effect, that he be medically retired with pay and benefits, in lieu of being discharged by reason of physical disability without severance pay.

APPLICANT STATES:  That his DD Form 214 (separation document) does not include his medals or the fact that he is a high school graduate, and it states that he was discharged without benefits.  He states that he was a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on the psychiatric ward and did not receive a medical discharge.  He states that there was no sign of him having a mental illness before he came into the Army.  He also states that since his medical condition arose after his enlistment in the Army, it was service-connected.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

The applicant entered the Army on 2 September 1983 for a period of 4 years.  He completed basic combat training at Fort Bliss, Texas.  He was unable to complete training for military occupational specialty (MOS) 76J (Medical Supply) and was assigned to Fort Lee, Virginia for training in MOS 76Y (Supply Specialist). 

While assigned to Fort Lee the applicant was admitted to the hospital for hearing voices, frequent headaches, dizziness, and chest pains.  He was referred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for a possible medical evaluation board (MEB).

The applicant was evaluated by a psychiatrist and diagnosed as having schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, subchronic, manifested by blunted affect, auditory hallucination, and decreased functioning stress, minimal, routine mild family history of mental illness; impairment for military duty, marked, for social and industrial adaptability, definite.  

The MEB met, found the applicant medically disqualified, and recommended his case be forwarded to a physical evaluation board (PEB).  The applicant concurred with the MEB’s recommendation and findings. 

The PEB met and determined that the applicant’s diagnosis of schizophrenia, existed prior to service (EPTS), was not in the line of duty, was not service aggravated, and was nonratable.  The PEB also noted that the applicant’s illness by natural progression became apparent within 4 months after he entered the Army and progressed to the point of his being hospitalized.  The PEB found the applicant physically unfit and recommended he be separated from the Army without severance pay.

The applicant concurred with the PEB’s findings and recommendation.  He was honorably discharged on 15 August 1984 for physical disability without severance pay.  His DD Form 214 listed no awards or authorized medals during his enlistment. 

The Army Reserve Personnel Center issued a DD Form 215 on 30 July 1993 correcting Item 16 on the applicant’s separation document to show that the applicant was a high school graduate or equivalent.

Army Regulation 600-8-1, Army Casualty and Memorial Affairs and Lline of Duty Investigations, paragraph 41-8 states, in pertinent part, that if an EPTS condition was aggravated by military service, the finding will be in the line of duty.  If an EPTS condition is not aggravated by military service, the finding will be not in line of duty, EPTS.  

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The applicant was diagnosed with an EPTS psychiatric condition which manifested itself within 4 months of his entering the Army and was not aggravated by military service.  Therefore, his condition was properly considered not-in-the-line-of-duty.  Consequently, he was properly discharged without severance pay.

2.  The evidence of record reveals that the applicant was not awarded or authorized any medals during his 11 months of service.  Therefore, none
is listed on his DD Form 214.  

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___JEV__  ___JNS__  ___RVO__  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director