1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 17 November 2015 b. Date Received: 23 November 2015 c. Counsel: 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he desires to receive VA benefits. Per the Board's Medical Officer, based on the information available for review at the time, and both military and VA electronic medical records were reviewed. The applicant saw Army Behavioral Health a few times. Was diagnosed with Depressive DO NOS and Anxiety DO NOS. Was treated and responded to antidepressant treatment. In his 17 December 2014 Behavioral Health Screen, he denied anxiety or depressive symptoms. VA problem list diagnoses the applicant with PTSD on 29 December 2015. This diagnosis was made based on applicant's report that he had deployed to Afghanistan for two months and learned of his close friend and mentor being killed. However, one month earlier, on 30 November 2015, the applicant reported to VA that he did not deploy to Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. There is no documentation of applicant deploying to Afghanistan in his military medical records nor is there any documentation of PTSD symptoms. Therefore, based on the information currently available, the applicant does not have a mitigating behavioral health disorder for the offenses leading to his discharge from the Army. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 10 March 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Pattern of Misconduct / AR 635-200, Paragraph 14-12b / JKA / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 9 October 2015 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 25 August 2015 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons knowingly made false statements to SSG B.G. on diverse occasions (22 January, 10 and 17 February 2015); missed 0900 formation at the 3-69 CAB motor pool (9 March 2015); made unauthorized purchases with his government travel card (between 8 November 2014 and 2 January 2015); and, failed to appear in court for a traffic violation and was arrested (14 March 2015). (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 26 August 2015 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 8 September 2015 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 23 April 2015 / 4 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 / HS Graduate / 96 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 11B10, Infantryman / 4 years, 11 months, 2 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: RA, 8 November 2010 to 2 May 2013 / HD RA, 3 May 2013 to 2 November 2014 / HD RA, 3 November 2014 to 22 April 2015 / HD e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: AGCM, NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: The applicant received several negative counseling statements for lying on multiple occasions to his chain of command, lying to his squad leader, failed to obey an order, making a false statement, disloyal statements, missing formation, missing equipment, unauthorized use of Government Travel Card, and being arrested. The unit commander's recommendation memorandum, indicates the applicant received a CG Article, he was reduced to E-3, extra duty and restriction for 14 days. However, this Article 15 is not contained in the applicant's separation file. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 11 February 2015, reflects the applicant was diagnosed with (Axis I) Adjustment Disorder and occupational problems. There were no psychiatric disease or defect that warrants disposition through medical channels in accordance with AR 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness. There were no psychiatric symptoms sufficient to require hospitalization, necessitate limitations of duty, or interfere with effective military service. He was psychiatrically cleared for chapter separation or other administrative actions deemed appropriate by command. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 14 allows for separation for misconduct with paragraph 14-1 allowing for separating personnel because of minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, commission of serious offense, conviction by civil authorities, desertion, or absence without leave. Paragraph 14-2 states action will be taken to separate a Soldier for misconduct when it is clearly established that despite attempts to rehabilitate or develop him/her as a Soldier further effort is not likely to succeed; rehabilitation is impracticable or the Soldier is not amenable to rehabilitation. Paragraph 14-12b addresses a pattern of misconduct consisting of either discreditable involvement with civilian or military authorities or discreditable conduct and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline including conduct violating the accepted standards of personal conduct found in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Army Regulations, the civilian law and time-honored customs and traditions of the Army. Secretary of Defense Memorandum for Secretaries of the Military Departments (Subject: Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requests by Veterans Claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, dated September 3, 2014), provided guidance to help ensure consistency across the military services in consideration of PTSD relevant to Service Members' discharges. "Liberal consideration will be given in petitions for changes in characterization of service to service treatment record entries which document one of more symptoms which meet the diagnostic criteria of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or related conditions. Special consideration will be given to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determinations which document PTSD or PTSD-related conditions connected to military services. In cases where Service Records or any document from the period of service substantiated the existence of one or more symptoms of what is now recognized as PTSD or PTSD-related condition during the time of service, liberal consideration will be given to finding that PTSD existed at the time of service. Liberal consideration will also be given in cases where civilian providers confer diagnoses of PTSD or PTSD-related conditions, when case records contain narratives that support symptomatology at the time of service, or when any other evidence which may reasonably indicate that PTSD or a PTSD-related disorder existed at the time of discharge which might have mitigated the misconduct that caused the under other than honorable conditions characterization of service. This guidance in not applicable to cases involving pre- existing conditions which are determined not to have been incurred or aggravated while in military service." 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, the applicant desires to receive VA benefits. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms the applicant's discharge was appropriate because the quality of his service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel. It brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline. By the documented pattern of misconduct, the applicant diminished the quality of his service below that meriting an honorable discharge at the time of separation. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that the applicant's service mitigated the misconduct or poor duty performance, such that he should have been retained on Active Duty. The applicant desires to receive VA benefits. Eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance. The discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 10 March 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214 / Issue a New Separation Order: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change SPD / RE Code to: No Change e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: No Change Authenticating Official: Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NCO - Noncommissioned Officer SCM - Summary Court Martial BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge HS - High School NIF - Not in File SPCM - Special Court Martial BH - Behavioral Health HD - Honorable Discharge NOS - Not Otherwise Specified SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training OAD - Ordered to Active Duty TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP - Military Police OMPF - Official Military Personnel File UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS - Entry Level Status MST - Military Sexual Trauma PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 NA - Not applicable RE - Reentry VA - Veterans Affairs ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20150018585 4