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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS
2 NAVY ANNEX
WASHINGTON DC 20370-5100

JRE
Docket No. 02440-07
7 April 2008

This is in reference to your application for correction of your naval record pursuant to the provisions of title 10 of the United States Code, section 1552.

A three-member panel of the Board for Correction of Naval Records, sitting in executive session, considered your application on 27 March 2008. Your allegations of error and injustice were reviewed in accordance with administrative regulations and procedures applicable to the proceedings of this Board. Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of your application, together with all material submitted in support thereof, your naval record and applicable statutes, regulations and policies.

After careful and conscientious consideration of the entire record, the Board found that the evidence submitted was insufficient to establish the existence of probable material error or injustice.

The Board found that you underwent a pre-commissioning physical examination on 12 December 2000, at age 44. Although you disclosed a history of shortness of breath, chronic or recurrent back pain, plantar fasciitis, and an electrical burn of your elbow, you were found qualified for commissioning. You entered on active duty as a chaplain on 11 June 2001. You were examined on 20 June 2002 and found qualified for separation. You received a highly laudatory fitness report for the period 1 February-15 July 2002 period, and received a rating of “P/WS” (pass/within standards) in item 20 of report, under the heading “Physical Readiness”. You were discharged on 15 July 2002 due to the loss of your ecclesiastical endorsement. Following your discharge, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded you a combined, non-convalescent/hospitalization disability rating of 60% from 16 July 2002, which was increased to 70% from 18 March 2003, and to 80% in 2006, for conditions of your back, feet, knees, lungs and elbow.

Your receipt of a substantial combined disability rating from the VA effective the day following your discharge from the Navy is not probative of the existence of error or injustice in your Navy record. In this regard, the Board noted that the VA must rate all conditions that it determines were incurred in or aggravated by a period of military service. Ratings are assigned without regard to the issue of fitness for military duties, and may be modified throughout a veteran’s lifetime. The military departments, unlike the VA, may assign disability ratings only in those cases where a service member has been found unfit to reasonably perform the duties of his office, grade, rank or rating by reason of physical disability. Although you suffered from numerous minor physical complaints during your brief period of commissioned service, your record does not establish that you were unfit for duty at the time of your separation. It is unlikely that you would have been entitled to military disability benefits even if you had been found unfit for duty, as it appears that most, if not all, of your conditions existed prior to your commissioning, and were not aggravated by your service.

In view of the foregoing, your application has been denied. The names and votes of the members of the panel will be furnished upon request.

It is regretted that the circumstances of your case are such that favorable action cannot be taken. You are entitled to have the Board reconsider its decision upon submission of new and material evidence or other matter not previously considered by the Board. In this regard, it is important to keep in mind that a presumption of regularity attaches to all official records. Consequently, when applying for a correction of an official naval record, the burden is on the applicant to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

Sincerely,

					W. DEAN PFEIFFER
  				 Executive Director