MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:        

	BOARD DATE:            3 June 1999       
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999014890

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Ms. Gale Thomas		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		Member	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern, III		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether the application was filed within the time established by statute, and if not, whether it would be in the interest of justice to waive the failure to timely file.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  In effect, disability retirement or separation vice his honorable discharge from active duty in July 1970.  The applicant states that he was granted a 50 percent disability rating by the VA following his separation from the military.

PURPOSE:  To determine whether the application was submitted within the time limit established by law, and if not, whether it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

On 1 August 1967, he enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of 3 years.  On 21 July 1970, after serving on active duty for 2 years, 11 months and 21 days, he was released from active duty and transferred to the Army Reserve. 

On 10 July 1976, a “quadrennial” physical examination conducted at the 316th Station Hospital, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, indicates the applicant had several aliments but was qualified for retention in the Army Reserve.

On 18 January 1979, he was given a general discharge from the Army Reserve, under the provisions of Army Regulation 135-178 (Army National Guard and Army Reserve Separation of Enlisted Personnel), paragraph 3-6, for failure to participate satisfactorily in required training.  

Subsequent to his separation, the applicant was granted a service connected disability rating of 50 percent, by the Veterans Administration(VA) for post traumatic stress disorder.  In September 1994, he was granted a 100 percent disability rating effective 20 May 1988, based upon his unemployability.  

Army Regulation 40-501, paragraph 3-3b(1), as amended, provides that for an individual to be found unfit by reason of physical disability, he must be unable to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank or rating.

Army Regulation 40-501, at paragraph 3-3a, provided, in pertinent part, that performance of duty despite an impairment would be considered presumptive evidence of physical fitness.

Title 38, United States Code, sections 310 and 331, permits the VA to award compensation for a medical condition which was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.  The VA, however, is not required by law to determine medical unfitness for further military service.  The VA, in accordance with its own policies and regulations, awards compensation solely on the basis that a medical condition exists and that said medical condition reduces or impairs the social or industrial adaptability of the individual concerned.  Consequently, due to the two concepts involved, an individual's medical condition, although not considered medically unfitting for military service at the time of processing for separation, discharge or retirement, may be sufficient to qualify the individual for VA benefits based on an evaluation by that agency.  Furthermore, unlike the Army the VA can evaluate a veteran throughout his or her lifetime, adjusting the percentage of disability based upon that agency's examinations and findings.

Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  Failure to file within 3 years may be excused by a correction board if it finds it would be in the interest of justice to do so.

DISCUSSION:  The alleged error or injustice was, or with reasonable diligence should have been discovered on 21 July 1970, the date he was released from active duty.  The time for the applicant to file a request for correction of any error or injustice expired on 21 July 1973.

The application is dated 16 December 1997 and the applicant has not explained or otherwise satisfactorily demonstrated by competent evidence that it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to apply within the time allotted.

DETERMINATION:  The subject application was not submitted within the time required.  The applicant has not presented and the records do not contain sufficient justification to conclude that it would be in the interest of justice to grant the relief requested or to excuse the failure to file within the time prescribed by law.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  EXCUSE FAILURE TO TIMELY FILE

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__rvo___  ___kan__  ___tbr__  CONCUR WITH DETERMINATION

		Loren G. Harrell
		Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999014890	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990603	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  136.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.