DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 
701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001
ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490 

Docket No: 0348-20  
Ref: Signature Date  

From: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records  
To:   Secretary of the Navy  

Ref:  (a) 10 U.S.C. § 1552 

Encl: (1) DD Form 149 

1.  Pursuant to the provisions of the reference, Petitioner, a former enlisted member of the Marine Corps, filed the enclosure with this Board requesting correction of your characterization of service to honorable. 

2.  The Board, consisting of     reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 24 February 2020, and pursuant to its regulations, determined that the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record.  Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, relevant portions of the naval records, as well as applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. 

3.  The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice, finds as follows: 

a.  Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulations within the Department of the Navy. 

b.  The Petitioner enlisted in the Marine Corps and began a period of active duty on 18 August 2003. On 11 August 2004, a Physical Evaluation Board (BEB) determined Petitioner incurred injuries while on active duty that were not due to misconduct, might be permanent, and were non-combat related.  On 12 August 2004, Petitioner received Notice of Conclusion of Disability Proceedings stating that he was found unfit for continued Naval service with a 10% disability rating.  Petitioner waived his right to submit new or additional information and a formal hearing.  On 30 September 2004, Petitioner was discharged.  Petitioner’s DD Form 214 contained several errors, including Block 24, which read uncharacterized.  On 7 January 2013, Petitioner received a DD Form 215 with corrections to Blocks 12a, c, e and 18.  On 30 September 2013, Petitioner received another DD Form 215, correcting Blocks 4a and b. 

c.  Petitioner asserts that he served honorably and was discharged due to injury; however, his characterization of service is general (under honorable conditions) which is preventing him from access to benefits.  TheBoard noted there was no information contained in the Petitioner’s record to support a general rather than honorable characterization of service. 

CONCLUSION 

Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board finds the existence of an error warranting relief. 

RECOMMENDATION 

In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action: 

Petitioner’s naval record be corrected by changing Petitioner’s DD Form 214, Block 24 to read:  HONORABLE.” 

Petitioner be issued a new DD Form 214. 

That no further action be granted.

A copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 

That upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs is informed that Petitioner’s application 
was received by the Board on 2 January 2020. 

4.  It is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings in the above-entitled matter. 

5.  Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6(e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulation, Section 723.6(e)) and having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing corrective action, taken under the authority of the reference, has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.