From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To:      Secretary of the Navy 
 
Subj:   REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD ICO  
  
 
Ref: (a) Title 10 U.S.C. 1552 
 
Encl:   (1) DD Form 149 w/attachments 
 
1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Subject, hereinafter referred to as Petitioner, filed enclosure (1) with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board), requesting that Petitioner’s naval record be corrected to change his narrative reason for separation and reenlistment code.    
                                              
2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 18 June 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 naval records, and 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.  A review of Petitioner’s record shows that he entered active duty with the Navy in June 1998.  He performed without incident until he was administratively separated for alcohol rehabilitation failure on 25 October 2013.  He was assigned an Honorable characterization of service upon his discharge.  Post-discharge, the Department of Veterans Affairs rated Petitioner for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2018 and determined he was totally and permanently disabled the following year. 
                                     
CONCLUSION 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting relief.  Specifically, the Board determined that the preponderance of the evidence supports changing Petitioner’s narrative reason for separation from Alcohol Rehabilitation Failure to Secretarial Authority to remove any potential stigma associated with listing alcohol rehabilitation failure on his DD Form 214.   
Despite this finding, the Board found no error with the Navy’s determination that Petitioner was an Alcohol Rehabilitation Failure.  As such, despite Petitioner’s VA rating for mental health conditions and his record of performance prior to his alcohol rehabilitation failure, the Board concluded the preponderance of the evidence supports the Navy’s decision to administratively separate Petitioner for that basis and assign him a disqualifying reenlistment code.      
 
RECOMMENDATION 
 
In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action. 
 
Petitioner’s naval record be corrected by changing Petitioner’s narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority along with any required changes to his record consistent with the narrative reason change.  Petitioner will be issued a new DD Form 214.   
 
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 reference (a), has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.                

6/19/2020