IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 May 2015 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150003261 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 correction of his records to show approval of retroactive Board Certification Pay (BCP) for the period 18 August 2014 through 31 December 2014. 2. The applicant states: * he took and passed the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Examination on 18 August 2014, yet he did not begin receiving BCP until January 2015 * according to the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG), he should receive BCP beginning the date he took and passed the exam * he was on temporary duty at the Flight Surgeon Course from October 2014 through mid November 2014 and was unable to file the request for BCP at his temporary duty station at that time * he submitted the request upon return to his permanent duty station and was informed he would receive back pay, but he never received it * he was advised he would need to appeal to the Army Review Boards Agency 3. The applicant provides: * letter notifying him of his scheduled Internal Medicine Certification Examination date, time, and location * ABIM Verification of Certification Status, dated 9 December 2014 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant was appointed as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Reserve on 13 April 2007 and was in an active duty for training status until his appointment as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army on 8 June 2011. He is currently a Medical Corps internist at the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity (AMEDD), Fort Irwin. 2. The applicant provided a letter notifying him of his scheduled Internal Medicine Certification Examination at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, 18 August 2014, at the Pearson Virtual University Enterprises Test Center in Las Vegas, NV. 3. The applicant provided a letter from ABIM, dated 9 December 2014, verifying his board certification status as of 9 December 2014. This letter shows he was certified in internal medicine and his initial certification was in 2014. This letter does not verify his status as of 18 August 2014. 4. He began receiving BCP in January 2015, retroactive to 9 December 2014, the date of the letter from ABIM verifying his board certification. The date he submitted his packet for BCP is unknown, but he contends it was not until after his return from the Flight Surgeon Course in mid November 2014. 5. On 25 March 2015, the Board received an advisory opinion from OTSG regarding the applicant's request for BCP. OTSG does not support the applicant's request for initial board certification with retroactive BCP to 18 August 2014 as there is no documentation to support authorization for payment for the period 18 August 2014 through 8 December 2014. The applicant was provided a copy of this advisory opinion and given an opportunity to respond and/or provide further corroborating documentation, but he failed to do so. 6. All Army Activities Message (ALARACT) 367/2010, dated 6 December 2010, subject: ALARACT Army Medical Corps Officer Special Pay Policy, Plan, and Rates, states BCP is initiated when board certification is awarded and supporting verified documents are transmitted via command personnel channels to the AMEDD Special Pay Branch, OTSG. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's request for correction of his records to show approval of retroactive BCP for the period 18 August 2014 through 31 December 2014 was carefully reviewed. 2. ALARACT Message 367/2010 states BCP is initiated when board certification is awarded and supporting verified documents are sent from command personnel channels to the OTSG AMEDD Special Pay Branch. 3. The evidence of record shows his board certification was verified by ABIM on 9 December 2014. Although he provided a letter notifying him of his internal medicine certification examination date of 18 August 2014, there is no documentation verifying his actual certification prior to 9 December 2014. 4. Records show the applicant received retroactive BCP to the 9 December 2014 date of board certification verification. 5. Therefore, there is insufficient documentary evidence to support the applicant's request at this time. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x___ ____x____ ___x____ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _______ _ _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) AR20150003261 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150003261 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1