PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  16 February 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999028106

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

	Mr. Paul A. Petty		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Ms. Meta Waller		Member	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his Social Security Number (SSN) be corrected on his DD Form 214 and that the DD Form 214 show he was discharged for physical disability and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

3.  The applicant states that his SSN is incorrect on his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 23 May 1967.  After completing basic training and advanced training as a wheel vehicle mechanic, he was assigned respectively to Germany, to Fort Riley, and then to Vietnam on 5 June 1969 where he was assigned to an armor unit.  He advanced to the grade and rank of E-5 SP5.  On or about 19 March 1970, he was evacuated to Walter Reed Medical Center (WRMC) as a patient.  The applicant was reviewed by a Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) on 13 August 1970.  The PEB found that the applicant suffered disabilities: schizophrenic reaction and traumatic arthritis in the left ankle.  The PEB recommended that the applicant be separated from the service for physical disability with severance pay.  He was so discharged on 10 March 1971 under Chapter 5, 
paragraph 5-8e(3), AR 635-40, Physical Disability with Entitlement to Severance Pay.

5.  Until the applicant arrived at WRMC, his SSN was correct in his records.  After arriving at WRMC it appears that a one digit possibly typographical error was made in his SSN which was perpetuated while at WRMC and on his discharge.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s SSN is incorrect on his DD Form 214 and on some documents in his military record.  His SSN should be corrected in his record and on his DD Form 214.

2.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 properly shows that he was discharged for physical disability as recommended by the PEB and approved by the discharge authority.

3.  The PEB did not diagnose the applicant with PTSD nor was he separated for that reason.  The term and diagnosis of PTSD was not introduced into the military medical vocabulary until 1980 with the publishing of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders..  For this reason and the fact that such medical information is not entered on the DD Form 214, PTSD cannot be added to the applicant’s discharge document.  His medical and mental symptoms and diagnoses are recorded in his military medical records for review as needed for post service medical support.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected for the individual concerned by changing his SSN on his DD Form 214 and in his records to show the correct SSN where the seventh digit is a 4 instead of an 8.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

_AO___  ___MW___  __CG___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____ Arthur A. Omartian ____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999028106	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000216	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.