RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           15 JANUARY 2004                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003091382

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Allen L. Raub		Member	
	Mr. William D. Powers		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).

THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:  

1.  The applicant requests disability retirement.

2.  The applicant states he inquired about appearing before a MEB (Medical Evaluation Board) but was told he had signed a declination for continued service and as such, would separate on his scheduled separation date (ETS).  He notes that he knew there was no guarantee that he would receive more money from the Army than from the Department of Veterans Affairs and so because his health was not good he decided to separate on his ETS date.

3.  The applicant provides no evidence in support of his request.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 

1.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of 4 years on 4 June 1997.  His enlistment physical notes that he was overweight but met the body fat standards.  His physical profile, at the time of his enlistment, was 1 1 1 1 2 1, which reflected his less than perfect eyesight.  He was, however, found fully qualified for enlistment.

2.  He was trained as a finance specialist and served in Korea for 12 months between 1998 and 1999.  He was awarded an Army Achievement Medal in recognition of his meritorious service while in Korea.

3.  Following completion of his tour of duty in Korea, the applicant was assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado.  He was promoted to pay grade E-4 in May 1999 and reenlisted for a period of 2 years on 2 October 2000.  His reenlistment contract notes he was fully qualified for reenlistment.

4.  Although the applicant’s records do not contain a copy of the document which the applicant executed to decline to reenlist, his separation document does indicate that such a statement was executed.

5.  A 13 May 2002 Enlisted Record Brief indicates that the applicant had no significant physical limitation and his physical profile was recorded as 1 1 1 1 1 1 on that document.

6.  On 1 October 2002, the applicant’s scheduled separation date, he was released from active duty with an honorable characterization of service.  He was awarded an Army Commendation Medal at the time of his separation in recognition of his meritorious service while assigned to Fort Carson.

7.  There were no medical records available to the Board and the applicant provided no medical records.  
8.  Army Regulation 635-40 states that disability compensation is not an entitlement acquired by reason of service-incurred illness or injury; rather, it is provided to soldiers whose service is interrupted and they can no longer continue to reasonably perform because of a physical disability incurred or aggravated in service.  When a solider is being processed for separation or retirement for reasons other than physical disability, continued performance of assigned duty commensurate with his or her rank or grade until the soldier is scheduled for separation or retirement, is an indication that the applicant is fit.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence, and the applicant has not provided any, which confirms that he was physically unfit to perform his duties at the time of his separation.

2.  The evidence of record indicates he did not have any medically unfitting disability which required physical disability processing.  Therefore, there is no basis for physical disability retirement.

3.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy that requirement.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__MKP   _  __ALR__  __WDP__  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.

		__Margaret K. Patterson___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003091382	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20040115	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	108.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.