BOARD DATE: 31 January 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170001181 BOARD VOTE: _____x____ ___x____ ____x____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration BOARD DATE: 31 January 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170001181 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 3. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant amendment of the decision of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records set forth in Docket Number AR20140018640, dated 3 September 2015, to show her character of service as "Honorable." ______________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. BOARD DATE: 31 January 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170001181 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). CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE: 23. On 6 October 2016, new information was received from the Army Review Boards Agency Clinical Psychologist regarding the decision of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20140018640, dated 3 September 2015. 24. The evidence submitted consists of an advisory opinion wherein the Army Review Boards Agency Clinical Psychologist stated that although the applicant's medical records are void of a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis or any other medical or mental health condition prior to her discharge, there is sufficient supporting evidence to determine a nexus between the misconduct and the behavioral health condition. Based on the information available for review at the time, the Board determined the absent without leave (AWOL) offense was mitigated by the traumatic abuse resulting in a PTSD diagnosis, which is a condition that can cause avoidant behaviors such as being AWOL. Given her impairment and need for continued supportive services, it is likely that PTSD mitigated the misconduct that led to her separation from active duty. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION: 6. At the time of the decision of the ABCMR in Docket Number AR20140018640 on 3 September 2015, it was the intent of the ABCMR to make the applicant's records as administratively correct as they should properly have been at the time. 7. In making its recommendation in Docket Number AR AR20140018640 the ABCMR did not have available the advisory opinion provided by Army Review Boards Agency Clinical Psychologist. The Board recommended upgrading her character of service to general under honorable conditions. 8. Based on the recent advisory opinion provided by Army Review Boards Agency Clinical Psychologist, it appears that the severity of the traumatic event or events that resulted in her clinical diagnosis of PTSD likely mitigated the misconduct that led to her separation from active duty. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS SUPPLEMENTAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20170001181 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS SUPPLEMENTAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Supplemental Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170001181 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS SUPPLEMENTAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2