1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 13 November 2015 b. Date Received: 17 November 2015 c. Counsel: None 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, since his discharge, he has been going to the Veterans Affairs for mental health problems, the same problems that led to his discharge. Per the Board's Medical Officer, based on the information available for review at this time, the applicant has a mitigating Behavioral Health Condition for the offenses which led to his General Discharge from the Army. The applicant has been diagnosed and found to be 100 percent service connected by the VA for Schizoaffective Disorder/Schizophrenia. Review of his military medical records indicates the applicant was exhibiting early signs of Schizoaffective Disorder/Schizophrenia while on Active Duty. He was noted to be paranoid. While he was not diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder/Schizophrenia while on Active Duty, review of his medical records indicates he did, indeed, have symptoms of early Schizoaffective Disorder/Schizophrenia. These disorders are characterized by positive symptoms (delusional thinking, paranoia, hallucinations, homicidal ideation, disorganized thinking) and negative symptoms such as avolition (decreased drive to pursue goal directed activity), apathy (decrease in goal directed behavior leading to a lack of productivity, lack of effort, lack of initiative, lack of perserverance, lack of concern about one's own or other people's personal problems, lack of emotional responsiveness) and forgetfulness. It is clear from the applicant's multiple counseling statements that he was suffering from prominent negative symptoms of Schizoaffective Disorder/Schizophrenia. (Indeed, his VA records confirm that while his positive symptoms are under control with medications, he continues to suffer from disabling negative symptoms). In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 1 February 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the discharge was improper based on the circumstances surrounding the applicant's discharge (i.e. 100 percent service-connected VA diagnosis OBH (shizoaffective disorder), in-service doctors failed to diagnose despite presence of symptoms). The evidence indicates the applicant should have been medically discharged. No fault of the applicant for his offenses, complete mitigation. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable and a change to the narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority. In addition, the board voted to change the applicant's reentry code to RE-4 to ensure there is no possibility of reentry into the military. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Pattern of Misconduct / AR 635-200 / Chapter 14-12b / JKA / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 10 August 2007 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 25 July 2007 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant failed to report on multiple occasions, was disrespectful, and failed to obey a lawful order from an NCO. (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 26 July 2007 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 2 August 2007 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 30 August 2005 / 4 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 21 / NIF / 108 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / 92G10, Food Service Operations / 1 year, 11 months, 11 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Numerous Developmental Counseling Forms for suicide watch, inappropriate statements, failing to report to his appointed place of duty at appointed time on multiple occasions, disrespect, failure to follow directions on multiple occasions, failure to obey direct orders on multiple occasions, and failure to report on multiple occasions. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: Mental Status Evaluation, dated 1 June 2007, reflects the applicant was mentally responsible with a bizarre thinking process. The applicant was diagnosed with (Axis I) Adjustment problem, Personality Disorder NOS (paranoid, avoidant, depressive features). Mental Health Progress Notes, dated 7 July 2015, reflect the applicant was being treated for schizophrenia. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293, with all allied documents listed in block 8 of the application. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with his application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 14 establishes policy and prescribes procedures for separating members for misconduct. Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, and commission of a serious offense, to include abuse of illegal drugs, convictions by civil authorities and desertion or being absent without leave. Action will be taken to separate a member for misconduct when it is clearly established that rehabilitation is impractical or unlikely to succeed. Army policy states that an under other than honorable conditions discharge is normally considered appropriate; however, a general, under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge may be granted. 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's record of service and the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms that 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. 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 be retained on active duty. The applicant's service record contains documentation that supports a diagnosis of in service Adjustment problem and Personality Disorder; however, a careful review of the entire record reveals that this medical condition did not overcome the reason for discharge and characterization of service granted. The record shows that on 1 June 2007, the applicant underwent a mental status evaluation which indicates he was mentally responsible. It appears the applicant's chain of command determined he was mentally responsible for his actions, as indicated by the mental status evaluation. 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 1 February 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the discharge was improper based on the circumstances surrounding the applicant's discharge (i.e. 100 percent service-connected VA diagnosis OBH (shizoaffective disorder), in-service doctors failed to diagnose despite presence of symptoms). The evidence indicates the applicant should have been medically discharged. No fault of the applicant for his offenses, complete mitigation. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable and a change to the narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority. In addition, the board voted to change the applicant's reentry code to RE-4 to ensure there is no possibility of reentry into the military. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: Honorable c. Change Reason to: Secretarial Authority d. Change Authority to: AR 635-200, Chapter 5-3 e. Change SPD/RE Code to: Change SPD to JFF/ Change to RE code to 4 f. Restore Grade to: No Change Authenticating Official: COL, US ARMY Presiding Officer Army Discharge Review Board 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 AR20150018592 1