Dear : This is in reference to your application for correction of your naval record pursuant to Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552. After careful and conscientious consideration of the entire record, the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board) found the evidence submitted was insufficient to establish the existence of probable material error or injustice. Consequently, your application has been denied. A three-member panel of the Board, sitting in executive session, considered your application on 16 December 2019. The names and votes of the members of the panel will be furnished upon request. 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, relevant portions of your naval record, as well as applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. In addition, the Board considered the advisory opinion (AO) furnished by a qualified Navy mental health professional dated 12 April 2019, which was previously provided to you, and after your response, an updated AO dated 2 May 2019, which is enclosed. On 10 November 1970, medical personnel diagnosed you with a passive-dependent personality disorder-moderate. On 11 May 1971, you reenlisted in the Navy after serving over three years of prior honorable service. On 6 September 1971, a medical entry states you were having family problems and committed a suicidal gesture by overdosing on Darvon (Propoxyphene) because you could not get leave. At that time, your records reflect the medical impression: “Suicide gesture, emotionally inadequate personality, recommended for leave on an emergency basis.” On 15 January 1972, a medical entry states you were diagnosed with drug ingestion. You took an overdose of an unknown quantity of a great variety of pills, including Parafon Forta, Tylenol, Ritalin, Zactirin, Mellaril, Fiorinol, Lomotil and Combid. On 9 February 1972, you were diagnose with violent emotional disturbance. On 18 February 1972, you were notified of administrative discharge action due to unsuitability, which you declined to make a statement on your behalf. On 22 February 1972, your case was forwarded to the separation authority with the recommendation that you be separated from the Navy due to unsuitability. On 17 March 1972, you received a general discharge. You request an upgrade of your characterization of service on the basis that you suffered from unrecognized Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at the time of your military service. Your request was fully and carefully considered by the Board in light of the Secretary of Defense's 3 September 2014 memorandum, “Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requested by Veterans Claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” the 25 August 2017 memorandum, “Clarifying Guidance to Military Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Requests by Veterans for Modification of their Discharge Due to Mental Health Conditions, Sexual Assault, or Sexual Harassment,” and the 25 July 2018 memorandum, “Guidance to Military Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Regarding Equity, Injustice, or Clemency Determinations.” A qualified Navy mental health professional further reviewed your request for correction to your record and provided the Board with an AO regarding your assertion you were suffering from PTSD during your service. The AO noted, in part, that as a result of a shipboard fire, you witnessed the death of your best friend and others, was treated in the emergency department following a drug overdose after your wife of three months left you, and was recently awarded 50% disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) due to the trauma you experienced. No additional records were available for review at that time. Although you submitted no medical records, your military record is consistent with your statement that you were present for the traumatic incident. It is reasonable that you could have incurred PTSD as a result of the fire. However, the VA records were not available for review to verify the diagnosis. It is clear that you experienced significant mental health concerns in-service, which do not appear to have begun until after your sea service deployment. In-service, these mental health concerns were attributed to your personality traits. Post-service records describing your PTSD symptoms and their specific link to your military misconduct are required to verify an alternate consideration. At this time, it is not clear how your relationship instability, which was the precipitant for your suicidal gestures and subsequent discharge, are related to witnessing a fire onboard the ship. Based on the available evidence, there is insufficient evidence that your misconduct should be attributed to a mental health condition incurred during military service. On 2 May 2019, an updated AO states that you submitted a 2018 letter from the VA granting service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). You submitted medical records from 1978-1979 documenting treatment for back pain and noting depression and psychiatric symptoms exacerbating your pain symptoms. You submitted a February 1972 hospitalization record noting a history of repeated suicide gestures and a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality. You submitted a personal statement that your troubles with your spouse were related to nightmares and re-experiencing symptoms associated with the fire. You have a diagnosis of PTSD that can be attributed to your military service. Your military misconduct does post-date your traumatic experience onboard the ship. However, it is difficult to attribute your misconduct, including assault and threats to murder your wife as well as multiple suicide attempts upon yourself, to PTSD. While PTSD re-experiencing symptoms can contribute to interpersonal conflict when the PTSD symptoms are not well understood, it is not a typical reaction to threaten or attempt murder. Additionally, the suicidal gestures were attributed to depression concerning your relationship termination, not depression concerning the loss of Shipmates from the fire. Based on the preponderance of the evidence, there is insufficient evidence to attribute the majority of your behavior to PTSD. The Board carefully weighed all potentially mitigating factors, such as your record of service, desire to upgrade your discharge, you have been awarded 50% service connected disability for PTSD, that you sought out help and was refused until now, and for the last 50 years you had problems, sought treatment and finally getting it. The Board also considered your assertions that you had many problems mentally, and when you sought medical treatment at several of your duty stations, you were told to grow up, be a man and quit your crying. The Board concluded these factors and assertions were not sufficient to warrant recharacterization of your discharge given your in-service mental health issues. The Board also concurred with the AO’s statement that there is insufficient evidence to attribute the majority of your behavior to PTSD. 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 the submission of new matters, which will require you to complete and submit a new DD Form 149. New matters are those not previously presented to or 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. Enclosure