RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03476 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: The Narrative Reason for Separation on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be changed from Personality Disorder to Medical Conditions. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was discharged for psychiatric reasons. He was unaware of the impact of not having his medical condition annotated on his DD Form 214. In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214. His complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 29 Mar 00, the applicant contracted his enlistment in the Regular Air Force. On 22 Nov 00, the applicant’s commander notified him that he was recommending his discharge from the Air Force for a mental disorder. The specific reason for the discharge action was that on 1 Nov 00, he was diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Mood and Conduct. His commander advised him of his rights in this matter; and on 22 Nov 00, the applicant waived his right to legal counsel and to submit statements in his own behalf. On 22 Nov 00, the legal office reviewed the case and found it legally sufficient to support separation and recommended the applicant be separated with an honorable discharge without probation and rehabilitation. On 27 Nov 00, the discharge authority directed discharge with an honorable discharge without probation and rehabilitation. He was honorably discharged on 1 Dec 00 with a narrative reason for separation of Personality Disorder. He served eight months and three days on active duty. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The AFBCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial of the applicant’s request to change his narrative reason for discharge to “Honorable under medical conditions;” however, he does recommending changing it to “Adjustment Disorder.” The Medical Consultant’s notes Department of Defense (DoD) at the time of the applicant’s discharge categorized unsuiting mental conditions under the broad heading of personality disorder. Therefore, if an individual was separated with an adjustment disorder; personality disorder would be listed on the DD Form 214. However, DoD has since adjusted its policy such that adjustment disorder may stand alone as narrative reason for separation with its own separation program designator (SPD). The Medical Consultant further notes an appropriate course of action would be to change the applicant’s reason for separation to adjustment disorder, along with the applicable SPD with no change to the reentry code. The Medical Consultant acknowledges the applicant’s separation over a decade ago emanated from his inability to deal with his sister’s death, along with the burden of adjusting to military service. While it is likely the applicant had trouble adjusting to military life, it is more likely bereavement was the underlying or overriding precipitating stressor. The complete AFBCMR Medical Consultant's evaluation is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the BCMR Medical Consultant's evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 14 Jun 11 for review and comments within 30 days. As of this date, no response has been received by this office. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or an injustice warranting a change of the applicant's narrative reason for separation to reflect medical conditions. However, the AFBCMR Medical Consultant states the narrative reason for the applicant's discharge, Personality Disorder, does not accurately reflect the circumstances of his separation. We note that at the time of the applicant’s separation all unsuiting mental disorders were categorized under the broad heading of Personality Disorders; however, since that time Adjustment Disorder has been added as an authorized narrative for separation. In view of this and since it is unjust to wrongfully label the applicant with a long-term condition such as a Personality Disorder, when he was actually diagnosed with a short-term Adjustment Disorder due to the death of his sister, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below which will more appropriately identify the reason for his discharge. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that at the time of his honorable discharge on 1 December 2000, the narrative reason for his separation was "Adjustment Disorder," rather than "Personality Disorder," and he was assigned a separation code of "JFY," rather than "JFX". _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-03476 in Executive Session on 26 Jul 11 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-03476 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 16 Sep 10, w/atch. Exhibit B. Applicant's Military Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 6 Jun 11. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Jun 11.