IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 29 April 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140003603 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests retroactive award of Board Certification Pay (BCP) for the period 1 January 2009 through 28 February 2013. 2. The applicant states: * he has not received his BCP since January 2009 * as a board certified physician, he is entitled to BCP * his last board recertification was in 2008; he was certified as a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine until 31 December 2015 * in September 2008, he submitted the supporting document to his military treatment facility (MTF) credentials office for further action; however, his BCP was discontinued as of December 2008 * he first noticed he wasn't receiving BCP while reviewing the AMEDD Special Pay entitlements * since he discovered this error, he has contacted his human resources (HR) and finance support offices * his finance clerk verified his last BCP payment was in December 2008 and there has been no BCP activity since * his HR office contacted The Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) Special Pay office for guidance * the OTSG Special Pay office informed him they could retroactively pay his BCP beginning in March 2013 * they recommended he petition the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) for retroactive award of BCP for the period they couldn't cover 3. The applicant provides: * a board certification letter from the American Board of Family Medicine, Inc., dated September 2008, which details his board certification as a Diplomat until 31 December 2015 * a copy of an email message, dated 20 February 2014 * a printout from a finance system showing his BCP payment history * a copy of an email message, dated 21 February 2014 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. On 17 June 1989, the applicant was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer of the Army, in the rank of second lieutenant, in the Medical Services Corps. 2. On 25 May 2005, he was appointed as a commissioned officer in the Regular Army, in the rank of lieutenant colonel, in the Medical Corps. 3. He currently serves as a board-certified physician in the rank of colonel. 4. His Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR) contains a letter from the American Board of Family Medicine, Inc., dated September 2008, which informed him he passed his 2008 July/August Primary Recertification Examination, and as of 1 August 2008, he was board certified as a Diplomat until 31 December 2015. 5. On 8 April 2014, during the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, AMEDD Special Pay Branch, OTSG, who recommended relief in this case. a. The applicant indicated he did not receive BCP during the period January 2009 through February 2013, although he was board certified in family medicine as of 1 August 2008. b. Requests for BCP are initiated by officers through their supporting human resources office. A review of supporting documentation and available special pay and finance data indicates the applicant's last record of BCP expired 31 December 2008; there is no other record of submission, authorization, or payment of BCP. c. The applicant is eligible to receive BCP for the 50-month period 1 January 2009 through 28 February 2013. Utilize a Health Professions Pay Entry Date (HPPED) or finance Medical Special Pay (MSP) date of 12 June 1993 for the correct pay rate level. The retroactive payment for this total period is approximately $22,500 prior to withholding, exact payment to be determined by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Indianapolis (DFAS-IN) Center. 6. On 9 April 2014, the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant for information and to allow him the opportunity to submit comments or a rebuttal. 7. On 15 April 2014, by letter, the applicant concurred with the advisory opinion. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The OTSG database shows the applicant, though board certified in 2008 through 2015, did not receive the BCP he was entitled to receive for the 50-month period 1 January 2009 through 28 February 2013. In view of the foregoing, he is entitled to BCP from 1 January 2009 through 28 February 2013. BOARD VOTE: ____X____ ___X_____ ___X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing the applicant applied for and was authorized payment of BCP for the period 1 January 2009 through 28 February 2013, utilizing an HPPED or MSP date of 12 June 1993 for the correct pay-rate level and paying him retroactive BCP as a result of this correction. ______________X___________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130008585 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140003603 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1