Docket No. 7270-20 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 (b) Senior Medical Advisor CORB letter 1910 CORB: 002 of 7 April 2021 (c) Director CORB letter 1910 CORB: 001 of 14 April 2021 Encl: (1) DD Form 149 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 his naval record be corrected to place him on the disability retirement list, refer him to the Disability Evaluation System (DES), or change his narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority. He also requested to have all references to his personality disorder removed from his military record and to have his characterization of service upgraded to Honorable. 2. The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 1 July 2021, 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, 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 Marine Corps in May 2001. He served without incident until near the completion of his deployment to when he complained of mental health symptoms on his Post-Deployment Health Assessment. Upon his redeployment, Petitioner was diagnosed with Depressive Disorder and Personality Disorder in August 2004. This led to his placement on psychotropic medication, removal from deployment status, and placement on limited duty. However, Petitioner was recommended for administrative separation for his personality disorder on 17 November 2004. The letter from opined that Petitioner’s depression symptoms were likely being exacerbated by his personality disorder and personal issues related to his mother’s health. While the recommendation letter acknowledged Petitioner reported hallucinations, it was determined that his symptoms were not psychotic in origin and more likely related to his severe personality disorder. Finally, the author concluded it was in Petitioner’s best interest to administratively separate him from the Marine Corps in order to return him home to his. c. Petitioner was notified of administrative separation processing for his personality disorder on 29 November 2004. After waiving his rights to be counselled, he was discharged from the Marine Corps on 24 February 2005 with a General characterization of service. Petitioner had no record of misconduct or performance based counseling during his military career. d. In references (b) and (c), the office having cognizance over Petitioner’s request to be placed on the disability retirement list or have his case referred to the DES determined that the evidence does not support relief. Petitioner was previously provided a copy of the references for his comment prior to the Board’s adjudication of his case. 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 it was in the interests of justice to change Petitioner’s narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority and upgrade his characterization of service to Honorable. 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. Similarly, the Board found the interests of justice merit upgrading his characterization of service to Honorable based on the lack of evidence in his record that significant negative aspects of Petitioner’s conduct or performance of duty outweighed positive aspects of his military record. The Board found no evidence of misconduct or substandard performance in Petitioner’s record to support the Marine Corps’ decision to assign Petitioner a General under Honorable Conditions characterization of service. Despite this finding, the Board disagreed with Petitioner’s rationale for his placement on the disability retirement list, referral to the DES, or removal of all personality diagnoses from his record. The Board substantially concurred with the advisory opinions in his case and concluded the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that Petitioner was unfit for continued naval service due to his depression. In making this finding, the Board determined that Petitioner was properly diagnosed with a personality disorder and the diagnosis supports his administrative separation from the Marine Corps. The Board relied on the 17 November 2004 letter from that concluded that Petitioner suffered from a severe personality disorder that was influencing his mood and exacerbating his depression symptoms. The letter also concluded that had Petitioner been referred to the DES, his case would have been rejected resulting in his administrative separation. The advisory opinions in his case also concluded Petitioner did not suffer from compensable disability conditions to merit his placement on the disability retirement list or referral to the DES. Based on these medical opinions and the absence of medical evidence to the contrary, the Board concluded the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that Petitioner was unfit for continued naval service due to his depression, misdiagnosed with a personality disorder, or wrongfully discharged for based on his personality disorder diagnosis. Accordingly, the Board determined insufficient evidence of error or injustice exists to make any additional changes to Petitioner’s record. RECOMMENDATION In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action. Petitioner’s naval record be corrected by changing Petitioner’s characterization of service to “Honorable,” his narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority,” and his SPD code to “JFF1.” Petitioner will be issued a new DD Form 214 consistent with these changes. No other changes to his record are required. 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. 7/2/2021 Deputy Director