IN THE CASE OF:  	  

		BOARD DATE:  20 August 2015	  

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20150011487 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests reconsideration of his earlier request for retroactive Board Certification Pay.

2.  The applicant states he was under the impression through discussions with colleagues that BCP started when an individual took and passed the board exams and he seeks back pay if this is the case.  If this is not the case, he seeks back pay until 6 October 2014.

3.  The applicant provides:

* self-authored statement
* letter from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), dated 6 October 2014

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20140003261 on 26 May 2015.

2.  The applicant provided new evidence which shows he passed the ABIM 2014 Internal Medicine Certification Examination which was not previously considered by the Board and warrants consideration at this time.

3.  The applicant was appointed as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve on 13 April 2007 and was in an active duty for training status until his appointment as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army on 8 June 2011.  He is currently a Medical Corps internal medicine physician at the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity (AMEDD), Fort Irwin.

4.  In his previous application, he provided a letter from ABIM, dated 9 December 2014, verifying his board certification status as of 9 December 2014.  This letter showed he was certified in internal medicine and his initial certification was in 2014.  This letter did not verify his status as of 18 August 2014.

5.  He began receiving BCP in January 2015, retroactive to 9 December 2014, the date of the letter from ABIM verifying his board certification.  The date he submitted his packet for BCP is unknown.

6.  On 25 March 2015, the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) provided an advisory opinion in which they recommended denial of his request and stated there is no documentation to support authorization for payment for the period 18 August 2014 through 8 December 2014.  The applicant was provided a copy of this advisory opinion and given an opportunity to respond and/or provide further corroborating documentation, but he failed to do so.

7.  On 26 May 2015, the ABCMR denied the applicant's request for retroactive payment of BCP based on insufficient documentary evidence.

8.  All Army Activities Message (ALARACT) 367/2010, dated 6 December 2010, subject:  ALARACT Army Medical Corps Officer Special Pay Policy, Plan, and Rates, states BCP is initiated when board certification is awarded and supporting verified documents are transmitted via command personnel channels to the AMEDD Special Pay Branch, OTSG.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

Sufficient evidence has been presented showing the applicant received his ABIM board certification on 6 October 2014.  In view of the foregoing, he should be paid retroactive BCP to 6 October 2014.


BOARD VOTE:

___X____  ___X____  ___X____ GRANT FULL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20150003261, dated 26 May 2015.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing the applicant:

* applied for and was authorized payment of BCP beginning 6 October 2014
* paying him retroactive BCP as a result of this correction



      _______ _   X______   ___
               CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20150011487



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20150011487



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