1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 29 December 2015 b. Date Received: 31 December 2015 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of her uncharacterized discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, she is a 80 percent service connected disabled veteran. The evidence she provides proves that her disabilities were incurred or aggravated by service. The applicant desires the upgrade to allow her to pursue her master's degree through the use of the GI Bill. Per the Board's Medical Officer, based on the information available for review at the time, the applicant served less than 60 days, being unable to complete her training, as she was discharged with a skin disease. She had no visits in AHLTA. Since her discharge, she has obtained an 80 percent service-connected disability rating form the VA, with a 70 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder. Her VA problem list includes Major Depressive Disorder, Depression, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The PTSD diagnosis appears in 2016. A relevant assessment is given in a note of 11 August 2016, "Veteran with lifelong exposure to trauma and history of BPD appears to meet criteria for PTSD." Even in sessions coded in 2016 for PTSD seem primarily focused on BPD, as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) was being used with the applicant, and it is an intervention designed for persons with BPD. Any information about the onset of her PTSD was not noted. The BPD is something that would have made her unsuited for service. And I could find no evidence that her time in the Army caused her PTSD. PTSD shows on the problem list in 2016 when she entered a DBT group for BPD that was got on her problem list in 2015. In reading her records, I was somewhat at a loss to understand how any of her mental-problems could be construed as service-connected, but lack all the information regarding her that her VA providers would have. Her BPD does help explain her limited response to treatment for her psychiatric problems. There was no good grounds for changing her discharge form uncharacterized, based on the available behavioral-health evidence. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 3 March 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Failure to Meet Procurement Medical Fitness Standards / AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-11 / JFW / RE-3 / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 12 May 2003 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date Entrance Physical Standards Board (EPSBD) convened: 29 April 2003 (2) EPSBD Findings: The findings of the evaluating physicians indicate the applicant was medically unfit for appointment or enlistment in accordance with current medical fitness standards and in the opinion of the evaluating physicians the condition existed prior to service. The applicant was diagnosed with Severe Atopic Dermatitis. (3) Date Applicant Reviewed and Concurred with the Findings, and Requested Discharge without Delay: On 29 April 2003, the applicant disagreed with the proceedings and the finding that her condition existed prior to entrance in the military. The applicant requested that her case be returned to the medical approving authority for reconsideration. The applicant's service record is void of any records regarding a reconsideration. (4) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 2 May 2003 / Uncharacterized 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 18 March 2003 / NIF b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 27 / HS Graduate / 91 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-1 / None / 1 month, 25 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: VA disability rating decision, dated 14 April 2016, reflects the applicant was assigned a 70 percent disability rating for major depressive order. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149, with all allied documents listed in block 9 of the application. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-11 specifically provides that Soldiers who were not medically qualified under procurement medical fitness standards, when accepted for enlistment, or who became medically disqualified under these standards prior to entry on active duty or active duty training or initial entry training will be separated. A medical proceeding, regardless of the date completed, must establish that a medical condition was identified by appropriate medical authority within six months of the Soldier's initial entrance on active duty, that the condition would have permanently or temporarily disqualified the Soldier for entry into the military service had it been detected at that time, and the medical condition does not disqualify the Soldier from retention in the service under the provisions of AR 40-501, Chapter 3. The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under this provision of the regulation will normally be honorable. However for Soldiers in entry-level status, it will be uncharacterized. AR 635-200 states that a Soldier is in an entry-level status if the Soldier has not completed more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty prior to the initiation of separation action. 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." 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of her uncharacterized discharge to honorable. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The proceedings of the Entrance Physical Standards Board (EPSB) revealed the applicant had a medical condition which was disqualifying for enlistment and existed prior to entry on active duty. These findings were approved by competent medical authority and the applicant agreed with the findings and proposed action for administrative separation from the Army. The applicant contends the VA has granted her a service connected disability for major depressive disorder. 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 uncharacterized description of service accurately reflects the applicant's overall record of service. An uncharacterized discharge is neither positive nor negative and it is not meant to be a negative reflection of a Soldier's military service. It merely means that the Soldier has not been in the Army long enough for his or her character of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise. The applicant contends that an upgrade of her discharge would allow educational benefits through the use of the GI Bill. However, eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance. 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 3 March 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214 / Issue a New Separation Order: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change SPD / RE Code to: No Change e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: No Change Authenticating Official: Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NCO - Noncommissioned Officer 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 NOS - Not Otherwise Specified SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training OAD - Ordered to Active Duty TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP - Military Police OMPF - Official Military Personnel File UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS - Entry Level Status MST - Military Sexual Trauma PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 NA - Not applicable RE - Reentry VA - Veterans Affairs ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20160001774 1