1. Applicant’s Name: a. Application Date: 9 March 2015 b. Date Received: 18 June 2015 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he was discharged due to his failure of the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). He had been diagnosed with Asthma while he was in AIT, in September 2012. He was diagnosed again, while he was stationed in Korea, in September 2013. He was given a profile stating that he could do a walking event. While he was at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, he was given an APFT, but was not allowed to do the walking event. He was taking three different inhalers at the time for his Asthma. He was retested for Asthma, but was told he didn’t have Asthma even though he could not go without his inhalers. He was then told to stop using the inhalers. He still uses inhalers to this day when he works out. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 9 September 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the applicant’s length of his service and circumstances surrounding the discharge (i.e. applicant’s inability to meet physical standards does not warrant a general, under honorable conditions discharge) and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable. The Board determined the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason/Authority/Codes/Characterization: Physical Standards / AR 635-200 / Chapter 13-2E / JFT / RE-3 / General, Under Honorable Conditions b. Date of Discharge: 19 August 2014 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 11 July 2014 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant failed two consecutive Army Physical Fitness Tests (APFT). (3) Recommended Characterization: General, Under Honorable Conditions (4) Legal Consultation Date: 14 July 2014 (5) Administrative Separation Board: N/A (6) Separation Decision Date/Characterization: 25 July 2014 / General, Under Honorable Conditions 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date/Period of Enlistment: 13 March 2012 / 3 years and 30 weeks b. Age at Enlistment/Education/GT Score: 25 / HS Graduate / 100 c. Highest Grade Achieved/MOS/Total Service: E-2 / 25Q, Multichannel Transmission System Operator - Maintainer / 2 years, 5 months, and 7 days d. Prior Service/Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service/Combat Service: Korea / None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWTSM, KDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: N/A h. Disciplinary Action(s)/Evidentiary Record: Physical Profile (DA Form 3349), dated 23 September 2013, reflects the applicant had a temporary profile for shortness of breath/dyspnea. The profile expired on15 December 2013. The applicant had the following limitations: No unit running; jog or interval training walk-jog at own pace and distance as tolerated. May bike for aerobic exercise. Physical Profile (DA Form 3349), dated 4 February 2014, reflects the applicant had a temporary profile for shortness of Asthma. The profile expired on 6 March 2014. The applicant had a “Run at own pace and distance” profile. Numerous DA Forms 4856 (Developmental Counseling), dated between 6 February 2014 and 16 May 2014, to establish a clear understanding of medical conditions and treatment plan; APFT failure; suspension of favorable actions; intent to separate from service; missing appointments; asleep on duty; and, disobeying a direct order. CG Article 15, dated 14 March 2014, for go from his appointed place of duty without authority (12 February 2014) and for failing to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty (26 February 2014). The punishment consisted of a reduction to E-1 (suspended) and extra duty 14 days. i. Lost Time: None j. Diagnosed PTSD/TBI/Behavioral Health: DA Form 3822 (Report of Mental Status Evaluation), dated 17 June 2014, reflects the applicant could understand the difference between right and wrong and could participate in the proceedings. The applicant was diagnosed with (Axis I) Depression related to the chapter proceedings. The applicant provided an extract of his Active Duty medical records, dated 4 February 2014, which reflects the applicant was diagnosed with (Axis I) Asthma Moderate persistent and Depression. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293, dated 9 March 2015, and an extract of his military medical records. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with his application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the requirements and procedures for administrative discharge of enlisted personnel. Chapter 13-2e states in pertinent part, that separation proceedings will be initiated for Soldiers without medical limitations that have two consecutive failures of the Army Physical Fitness Test. The reason for discharge will be shown as physical standards. The service of Soldiers separated because of unsatisfactory performance for failure to meet physical standards will be characterized as honorable or general, under honorable conditions. Secretary of Defense Memorandum for Secretaries of the Military Departments (Subject: Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requests by Veterans Claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, dated September 3, 2014), provided guidance to help ensure consistency across the military services in consideration of PTSD relevant to Service Members’ discharges. “Liberal consideration will be given in petitions for changes in characterization of service to service treatment record entries which document one of more symptoms which meet the diagnostic criteria of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or related conditions. Special consideration will be given to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determinations which document PTSD or PTSD-related conditions connected to military services. In cases where Service Records or any document from the period of service substantiated the existence of one or more symptoms of what is now recognized as PTSD or PTSD-related condition during the time of service, liberal consideration will be given to finding that PTSD existed at the time of service. Liberal consideration will also be given in cases where civilian providers confer diagnoses of PTSD or PTSD-related conditions, when case records contain narratives that support symptomatology at the time of service, or when any other evidence which may reasonably indicate that PTSD or a PTSD-related disorder existed at the time of discharge which might have mitigated the misconduct that caused the under other than honorable conditions characterization of service. This guidance in not applicable to cases involving pre-existing conditions which are determined not to have been incurred or aggravated while in military service.” “Conditions documented in the record that can reasonably be determined to have existed at the time of discharge will be considered to have existed at the time of discharge. In cases in which PTSD or PTSD related conditions may be reasonably determined to have existed at the time of discharge, those conditions will be considered potential mitigating factors in the misconduct that caused the under other than honorable conditions characterization of service. Correction boards will exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in cases in which serious misconduct precipitated a discharge with a characterization of service other than honorable conditions. Potentially mitigating evidence of the existence of undiagnosed combat related PTSD or PTSD-related conditions as a causative factor in the misconduct resulting in discharge will be carefully weighed against the severity of the misconduct. PTSD is not a likely cause of premeditated misconduct. Correction Boards will also exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in all cases of misconduct by carefully considering the likely causal relationship of symptoms to the misconduct.” 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant’s record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms that the applicant’s discharge was appropriate because of unsatisfactory performance which diminished the quality of his service. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that the applicant’s service mitigated the misconduct or poor duty performance, such that he should have been retained. The applicant provided an extract of his medical record, which contains documentation that supports a diagnosis of in service Asthma, which he contends, led to his discharge. However, a careful review of the entire record reveals that this medical condition did not overcome the reason for discharge and characterization of service granted. The record shows that on 11 April 2014, the applicant was counseled by his medical care provider on his medical condition and treatment plan. The counseling reflected that the applicant did not have Asthma or Hypothyroidism. He was diagnosed with Allergic Rhinitis. The applicant was returned to duty with no limitations. It appears the applicant’s chain of command determined that although he was suffering from Allergic Rhinitis, he had no physical limitations as indicated by the counseling. The discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 9 September 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the applicant’s length of his service and circumstances surrounding the discharge (i.e. applicant’s inability to meet physical standards does not warrant a general, under honorable conditions discharge) and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable. The Board determined the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: Honorable c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: NA AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL: COL, US ARMY Presiding Officer Army Discharge Review Board Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NA - Not applicable SCM - Summary Court Martial BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge HS - High School NIF - Not in File SPCM - Special Court Martial BH - Behavioral Health HD - Honorable Discharge OAD - Ordered to Active Duty SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training OMPF - Official Military Personnel File TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP - Military Police PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS - Entry Level Status MST - Military Sexual Trauma RE - Reentry UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 VA - Veterans Affair ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20150010816 5