ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

BOARD DATE: 16 September 2019 
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190009966

APPLICANT REQUESTS: Correction of his record to show he was paid American 
Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Board Certification Pay (BCP) effective on
4 October 2017 and back pay for BCP in the amount of $6,000 from 4 October 2017 to 
1 October 2018.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

   *	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
   *	letter from ABIM dated 4 October 2017 
FACTS:
1.	The applicant states:

*	he has been receiving BCP effective 1 October 2018 at the rate of $6,000 per 
year paid on a monthly basis
*	his ABIM board certification date was 4 October 2017
*	he was not paid BCP due him under Title 37 US Code section 335 (37 USC 335) 
from 4 October 2017 to 1 October 2018
*	he requests his record be corrected to reflect the date of 4 October 2017 to be 
his start date of the BCP
*	he requests back pay be provided from 4 October 2017 to 1 October 2018 in the 
amount of $6,000.00
*	the current signed request for BCP could not be made retroactive beyond 
1 October 2018 without this application to the Board

2.	A review of the applicant’s service records, and the documents provided by the 
applicant, show the following on:

*	10 May 2010 – the applicant was appointed as a Reserve Commissioned Officer
*	16 July 2014 – the applicant took his oath of office into the Regular Army
*	4 October 2017 - the applicant passed the ABIM 2017 Internal Medicine 
Certification Examination





3.	The applicant completed a request for Health Professions Officer (HPO) BCP on 
25 January 2019.  The request states:

*	he understands he's entering into the BCP effective 1 October 2018 and it 
expires 31 December 2027
*	he will be paid BCP at a rate of $6,000 per year paid on a monthly basis
*	his specialty is Internal Medicine

4.	Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs, Memorandum, Subject: HPO IP, 
dated 29 September 2017 provides that Internal Medicine professionals are entitled to 
BCP at $6,000.00 per year (prorated monthly).

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.	The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and 
evidence in the records. The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his record of 
service, the date he passed the ABIM 2017 Internal Medicine Certification Examination 
and his subsequent application for BCP. The Board determined that had he applied, he 
would have been eligible to receive BCP effective 4 October 2017. Based on a 
preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that a correction to the applicant’s 
record was necessary.

2.	After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that 
relief was warranted.



BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1
Mbr 2
Mbr 3

: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 to reflect:
-	The applicant submitted a request for BCP coincident with his 4 October 2017 
ABIM Internal Medicine Certification;
-	that his request was accepted and processed by the appropriate authority, 
and;
-	that he be paid any monies due as a result of this correction.



7/9/2020

 X	
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.


ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S):

Not Applicable



REFERENCE:

Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs, Memorandum, Subject: HPO IP, dated 
29 September 2017 provides the professionals in Internal Medicine are entitled BCP at
$6,000.00 per year (prorated monthly).