MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           25 February 1999                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999016920

	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. Vic Whitney		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James M. Alward		Chairperson	
	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Member	
	Mr. Samuel Calderon		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, physical disability retirement or separation.

APPLICANT STATES:  In essence, that the diagnosis of existed prior to service (EPTS) schizophrenia made in his case in 1957 was erroneous.  In support of the application he submitted a copy of a 18-page self-authored appeal to the VA, dated 17 March 1998, with 4 pages of high school photographs, a copy of a 27 April 1973 letter addressed by him to the Republican National Committee requesting a refund of a $1,000.00 contribution because of the Watergate affair and various documents describing him as a principal of a wholesale jewelry firm.

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

He entered active duty on 6 April 1957.

A 4 page Clinical Abstract form, prepared at Walter Reed Army Hospital shows, in part, that on 17 June 1957, after being reprimanded, "he yelled out loud and began to bang his head against the wall.  He was taken to the Fort Belvoir Emergency Room by two MP's, where he was found to be cooperative and courteous, but somewhat demanding in attitude.  However, his speech was very circumstantial and lacked goal direction.  He admitted to having seen a premonition or a vision of several faces around a table.  Affect was considered to be inappropriate.  His mood was one of depression and hostility, and his stream of thought was preoccupied with vague allusion to his tongue and his father.  The patient was felt to be a schizophrenic and was transferred to Walter Reed Army Hospital where he was admitted on 18 June 1957."

The history portion of the form shows that in April 1954 school authorities suggested to his parents that they seek psychiatric attention for the applicant.  On 20 April 1954 a psychiatrist evaluated him.  "Excerpts from a communication with this psychiatrist follow:  I first saw him April 20, 1954 following an acute psychotic episode following a trip to Palm Springs with other teenagers.  He had a fall from a horse primarily because he could not control the horse.  He was dazed, became incoherent and irrational, developed a feeling of omnipotence, and felt he had a mission to help the whole world.  He wrote letters to Einstein, became emotionally volatile, developed anger outbursts.  At times he recognized his difficulty and at times he called me his lawyer.  We tried to return him to school as quickly as possible because of the school term, he acted out, was quite aggressive, refuted his teachers, and had to drop out.  As he improved we took the situation up again and he returned to school although he was still not well.  I mentioned to the family that there might be an upheaval in the future.  At the time of the patient's car wreck, just prior to his entrance into the service, he had been seen by a psychiatrist because the doctor who had examined him following his wreck had believed that this was necessary.  At that time the psychiatrist recommended that the patient not go on active duty because it appeared, from what was known of his previous adjustment, that he was bound to fail."
On 16 September 1957 a board of medical officers (physicians), noting, in part, "psychotic episode in 1954," diagnosed the applicant as suffering from a chronic and severe schizophrenic reaction and recommended that he be separated from the service for an EPTS disability under the provisions of Army Regulation 
635-40B, section XII.

On 20 September 1957, with 5 months and 15 days total active service, he was honorably discharged.

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

1.  The evidence of record clearly establishes that the applicant was treated by two psychiatrists prior to his entry on active duty and that he suffered from an EPTS medically disqualifying mental disorder.

2.  Although a copy of the applicant's entrance physical examination is not in the available records, had he provided accurate information of his medical history at the time, he would have been found medically disqualified for entrance on active duty.

3.  The applicant's separation from active duty in 1957 by reason of an EPTS medically disqualifying condition was correct and in accordance with regulation.

4.  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

__JMP___  __JLP___  __SC____  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999016920	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19990225	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19570920	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-40	
DISCHARGE REASON	A31.00	
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	108.01	
2.	110.02	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.