IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 22 March 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20220005221 APPLICANT REQUESTS: retroactive payment for the Health Professions Officer Board Certification Pay (HPO BCP) at $6,000/year effective 20210728 (28 July 2021), the date of HPO BCP certification. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Letter of Lateness * December 2021 through March 2022 Leave and Earnings Statements * Request for Health Professions Officer (HPO) Board Certification Pay (BCP) * Email exchange/traffic * Veterinary Diploma – Diplomat in Veterinary Preventive Medicine FACTS: 1. The applicant states he is a board-certified veterinary officer. As such, he is entitled to special pay for being both a licensed veterinarian (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) in good standing as well as maintaining an additional board certification in Veterinary Preventative Medicine. These pays are outlined in DODI 7000.14-R, Financial Management Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 5, Health Professions Office (HPO) Special and Incentive Pay. As noted in the regulation, these yearly amounts are $5,000(DVM incentive pay) and $6,000 (board certification pay) and are paid on a monthly basis as $916.66. a. He has been in good standing with his veterinary license since his graduation from school in 2016; he achieved diplomate status effective 28 July 2021. As such, he is entitled to the additional $500/month board pay pro-rated from this date. Although he has submitted all pertinent documents through his administrative support channel, he has not been paid for the period 28 July through 30 September 2021 (as shown by LES December 2021 to March 2022 with only 20211001 noted for a special pay change) and he seeks remedy to correct his pay. The period 1 October 2021 to the present has been paid correctly and does not require restitution. He has submitted LESs for the period in question (from initial payment through the period when the second back payment was not received) along with his special pay contract, background memorandum for record, email correspondence, and proof of standing with the professional board (ACVPM) for this action. He is owed in excess of $1,000 due to the delay in payment. b. He received the initial notification of his board result on 28 July, but did not receive the physical diplomate certificate to be scanned/uploaded to iPERMS until late August 2021 because of delays in mail reaching Korea from CONUS. In addition, the local military treatment facility (MTF) does not have a veterinary special pay officer that can process transactions which necessitated reaching back to Tripler Army Medical Center (AMC) to work on processing documents. He finally made contact with the HR officials in late September 2021 at the end of FY21. He has included the entire email chain of his conversation with them to highlight his attempts to seek timely remedy. Due to staff training and transition among staff in that office, his inquiry did not receive immediate attention until late November 2021 despite multiple attempts to make contact. He only got the process started after he specifically included his Commander and asked her to help work through mutual acquaintances in . By the time all documents were prepared for his review and his Commander's review, it was already December 2021. They were advised that due to the date that they might need to seek remedy through the present route for the period covered in FY21 as is shown again through email traffic with the administrative party at Tripler AMC. For emphasis, he immediately replied to all correspondence for to ensure timely processing of the documents requested. c. He is seeking review of this case and financial remedy as bureaucracy does not absolve the U.S. Government of the obligation to pay this special pay in accordance with DODI 7000.14-R, Vol. 7a, Ch. 5. As noted by Ms. in her correspondence with OTSG (Office of The Surgeon General), this is the only remedy remaining. The board's assistance with this is greatly appreciated. 2. Review of the applicant’s service records shows: a. He was appointed as a Regular Army commission officer and executed an oath of office on 6 June 2016. b. He served in Turkey from July 2017 to June 2018, Japan from June 2018 to June 2021, and Korea beginning in June 2021. He was promoted to December 2021. c. On 28 July 2021, the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine certified the applicant as a Diplomate in Veterinary Preventive Medicine. d. On 1 December 2021, the applicant initiated Request for Health Professions Officer (HPO) Board Certification Pay (BCP), and on 2 December 2021, his commander approved it. 3. On 21 November 2022, the Office of The Surgeon General, Special Pay Branch, provided an advisory opinion in the processing of this case. The OTSG Advisory Official restated the applicant’s request for retroactive payment for the Health Professions Officer Board Certification Pay (HPO BCP) at $6,000/year effective 20210728, the date of HPO BCP certification. The official stated: a. Requests for the discretionary category of HPO BCP {37 U.S.C. §335(c)} are initiated by the officer through their command’s supporting HR/Personnel/S1 office. If board certification renewals are issued, they must also be submitted to ensure HPO BCP continues uninterrupted. Receipt of monthly HPO BCP can be verified by the officer by reviewing their monthly Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) entitlements column. A review of officer submitted documentation, special pay and finance records indicate that officer attained board certification on 20210728, but not initiated until 20211001. b. Advisory Opinion. Based on the above discussion, the Officer was eligible to receive the HPOBCP for the requested effective date, 20210728. Officer is eligible to receive $6,000/year, prorated $500.00/month for the period 20210728-20210930. Total amount the Officer is eligible to receive is $1,050.00. The exact arrears payment is calculated by DFAS-IN 4. The applicant was provided with a copy of this advisory opinion to give him an opportunity to comment. He did not respond. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found that relief was warranted. The Board carefully considered the applicant's record of service, documents submitted in support of the petition and executed a comprehensive and standard review based on law, policy and regulation. Upon review of the applicant’s petition, available military records, and Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Special Pay Branch at the Office of The Surgeon General advisory the Board concurred with the advisory opinion finding the applicant was eligible to receive $6,000/year, prorated $500.00/month for the period 20210728- 20210930. Total amount the Officer is eligible to receive is $1,050.00. The Board recommends the exact arrears payment is calculated by DFAS-IN. ? 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 by showing the applicant is eligible to receive the HPOBCP for the requested effective date, 20210728. Officer is eligible to receive $6,000/year, prorated $500.00/month for the period 20210728-20210930. Total amount the Officer is eligible to receive is $1,050.00. The exact arrears payment is calculated by DFAS-IN. 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. REFERENCES: 1. DODI 6000.13 defines HPO (Health Professions Officer) as officers designated as a medical officer, dental officer, veterinary officer, medical service officer or biomedical sciences officer, medical specialist, or a nurse. 2. DOD 7000.14-R, Financial Management Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 5 authorizes various incentive pays for a variety of medical specialties including Veterinarians. HPO Incentive Pay (IP) is authorized for Veterinarians at the rate of $6,000/year. Eligibility date begins not earlier than upon completion of qualifying training and date of privileging or licensure as an HPO. The HPO must execute a binding written IP agreement to remain on active duty beginning on the agreement effective date. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20220005221 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1