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 her narrative reason for separation to disability.    
                                              
2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 29 October 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.  Petitioner entered active duty with the Navy in December 1997.  In April 1998, after completing a written mental health assessment, she was provisionally diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder with Anxiety.  However, after an examination, she was diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder resulting in a recommendation for administrative separation.  Her medical provider concluded that her depression symptoms were treatable but that her personality disorder made her incompatible with further military service.  Based on the medical recommendation, Petitioner was processed for administrative separation and discharged at the convenience of the government due to her personality disorder.  Her DD Form 214, reflects “Personality Disorder” as the reason for her discharge.   
 
     c.  Post-discharge, Petitioner was treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for a number of disability conditions.  She provided a chronology of her VA medical issues that documented treatment for mixed anxiety and depressed mood in 2008 and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2016.  Based on a lack of personality disorder diagnosis from the VA, Petitioner is requesting a change to her narrative reason for separation to disability consistent with her VA diagnoses of mixed anxiety and depressed mood.  She implies that she was misdiagnosed by the military with a personality disorder and was instead unfit for continued naval service due to her anxiety and PTSD.    
                                  
CONCLUSION 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting partial relief.  Specifically, the Board determined that the interests of justice supports changing Petitioner’s narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority to eliminate any stigma associated with Personality Disorder being listed on his DD Form 214. 
 
Despite the Board’s determination that an injustice exists in Petitioner’s record due to Personality Disorder being listed on her DD Form 214, the Board determined the preponderance of the evidence does not support changing her narrative reason to disability.  In making this determination, the Board concluded that the medical diagnosis issued contemporaneous with her active duty service while she was exhibiting the symptoms was supported by her symptoms and medical history.  Additionally, the Board noted that her Navy medical provider concluded that her mental health symptoms were treatable.  This led them to find that Petitioner’s mental health symptoms, unrelated to her Personality Disorder, were not sufficiently severe to merit her referral to the Disability Evaluation System.  The medical evidence stated she was performing adequately in her courses and passing her examinations despite her symptoms.  In the Board’s opinion, this was evidence that Petitioner’s mental health symptoms did not prevent her from performing the duties of her office, grade, rank or rating.  But for Petitioner’s behavior related to her personality disorder, she would have been medically qualified for continued naval service.  Accordingly, the Board concluded Petitioner’s discharge at the convenience of the government for her personality disorder was supported by the preponderance of the evidence.   
 
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” and her SPD code to “JFF.”  Petitioner will be issued a new DD Form 214 consistent with this change.   
 
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.