1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 5 February 2016 b. Date Received: 7 April 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of her general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, the military base could not figure out what was wrong and she kept having repeated passing out spells from overheating. When the applicant got home, she received a tilt table test, which showed that she had autonomic neuropathy and POTS. Per the Board's Medical Officer, based on the information available for review at the time, there was insufficient evidence to determine if there was a nexus between a behavioral health or medical condition and the misconduct which led to the applicant's separation from the Army. No supporting documentation of POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) diagnosis was provided. While in service, she had diagnoses for an Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and Depression and physical concerns of Dizziness, Chest Pain, Headaches, and Nausea. She received two temporary profiles but no history of permanent profile for these conditions. A diagnosis of POTS alone does not fully explain or directly mitigate her multiple APFT failures. Mental Status exam dated 9 January 2013 indicated the applicant did have bouts of fainting that was of an unknown cause; however, she was psychiatrically cleared for administrative action. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 31 May 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the circumstances surrounding the applicant's discharge (i.e. physical standards is not misconduct, too harsh. Record APFTs given during period of temporary profile) and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to 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: 31 January 2013 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 11 January 2013 (2) Basis for Separation: Since arriving at Fort Lee, on 14 June 2012, to attend the 92G course of instruction, the applicant had been unable to successfully pass her Army Physical Fitness Test. The dates are 14 November 2012, 28 November 2012, and 5 December 2012. She had also shown an inability to perform duties effectively in the future. (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 17 January 2013 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 28 January 2013 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 14 June 2012 / 9 weeks (IADT) b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / 102 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / None / 1 year, 10 months, 22 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: USAR, 9 March 2011 to 23 May 2011 / NA IADT, 24 May 2011 to 6 August 2011 / NIF USAR, 7 August 2011 to 13 June 2012 / NA e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: FG Article 15, dated 18 October 2012, for failing to obey a lawful order by wrongfully possessing tobacco products (11 October 2012). The punishment consisted of a reduction to E-2. Personnel Action form, dated 22 October 2012, reflects the applicant was reduced to E-2, effective 18 October 2012. Numerous Developmental Counseling Forms for disobeying a lawful order from an noncommissioned officer; failure to obey an order or regulation; violation of the seven Army Values; failed to pass APFTs on 7, 14, and November 2012 and 5 December 2012; rehabilitation counseling; recommendation for Chapter 13. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 9 January 2013, reflects the applicant was cleared for administrative actions deemed appropriate by the command. The applicant could understand the difference between right and wrong and could participate in the proceedings. The applicant was diagnosed with (Axis I) Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and Depression. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the 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." 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of her general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms that the applicant's discharge was appropriate because the quality of her service was not consistent with the Army's physical standards for acceptable performance of duty by military personnel. The applicant's commander recommended her separation after her rehabilitation failure. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that the applicant's service mitigated the poor duty performance, such that she should be retained on active duty. The applicant contends that medical issues contributed to her discharge from the Army. After her discharge, she was diagnosed with autonomic neuropathy and POTS. However, the service record does not support the applicant's contention, and no evidence to support it has been submitted to corroborate the discharge was the result of any medical condition. Further, the record does not contain any medical evidence to indicate a problem which would have rendered the applicant disqualified for further military service with either medical limitation or medication. 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 31 May 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the circumstances surrounding the applicant's discharge (i.e. physical standards is not misconduct, too harsh. Record APFTs given during period of temporary profile) and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to 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 Authority to: No Change e. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change f. 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 AR20160007544 3