AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00512	
SUMMARY: 

The applicant was discharged on 15 July 2016 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Honorable Discharge for Impulse Control Disorder. The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge narrative reason, and a change to the reenlistment eligibility code.  The Board was conducted on 11 January 2022.

The applicant was not represented by counsel.    

The applicant requested the board be completed based on a records review only.

The attached examiner’s brief (provided to applicant only), extracted from available service records, contains pertinent data regarding the circumstances and character of the applicant’s military service. 

DISCUSSION:  The DRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an applicant’s discharge, is authorized to change the characterization of service and the narrative reason for discharge if such changes are warranted.  If applicable, the board can also change the applicant’s reenlistment eligibility code.  In reviewing discharges, the board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the applicant.  The Board completed a thorough review of the circumstances that led to the discharge and the discharge process to determine if the discharge met the pertinent standards of equity and propriety.  

The applicant contended that the reason for discharge was an improper diagnosis. He stated that he never displayed symptoms of impulse control disorder, conduct disorder or other disorders related to the discharge.

The DRB determined that the member was diagnosed with an unsuiting condition that resulted in his administrative discharge. However, the Board felt the narrative reason was more appropriately described as “Condition, Not a Disability”.   

LIBERAL CONSIDERATION:  Due to evidence of a mental health condition found in the applicant’s medical record, the Board considered the case based on the liberal consideration (LC) standards required by guidance from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and 10 USC §1553.  The Board included a member who is a physician, clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist. Specifically, the Board reviewed the four questions the Under Secretary of Defense provided that boards should consider when weighing evidence in requests for modification of discharges due in whole or in part to mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI); sexual assault, and sexual harassment.  

 Additionally, the Board considered the factors laid out in the attachment to the Under Secretary of Defense memorandum, Guidance to Military Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Regarding Equity, Injustice, or Clemency Determinations, dated 25 June 2018, known as the “Wilkie Memo.”  The Board considered the factors listed in paragraphs (6) (a)-(6) (l) of this memorandum.  The Board identified these pertinent factors in regards to this applicant’s situation: 

  (6)(f). Changes in policy, whereby a Service member under the same circumstances today would reasonably be expected to receive a more favorable outcome than the applicant received, may be grounds for relief.
Upon discharge, the member was given a Narrative Reason that states a medical diagnosis. A change to the narrative reason is needed to more accurately reflect the applicant's reason for separation, while also not inadvertently stigmatizing the applicant or disclosing sensitive information.  

Per guidance from the Department of Defense, applicant’s request to change the narrative reason should be approved when the original narrative reason was a diagnosis such as adjustment/personality disorder and there were no aggravating factors in the record, such as misconduct.  The Board determined the facts in this case met the criteria and, therefore approved the applicant’s request to change the narrative reason.

Medical board member comments: The applicant’s conditions were determined to be unsuiting. The conditions appropriately resulted in the applicant’s administrative discharge. The applicant’s Narrative Reason for Separation is more appropriately described as “Condition, Not a Disability”.

FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to approve the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge narrative reason to Condition, Not a Disability. However, it voted unanimously to deny changing the reenlistment eligibility code to 3K. 

CONCLUSION:  After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s contentions, summary of service, service/medical record entries, and discharge process, the Board found the discharge was improper. Therefore, the narrative reason for separation will change to “Condition, Not a Disability”, while, the reentry code will remain 2C. The AFDRB results were approved by the board president on 25 January 2022.  If desired, the applicant can request a list of the board members and their votes by writing to:  

Air Force Review Boards Agency
Attn: Discharge Review Board
3351 Celmers Lane
Joint Base Andrews, NAF Washington, MD 20762-6602  
Instructions on how to appeal an AFDRB decision can be found at 
https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief (Applicant Only)