1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 18 April 2016 b. Date Received: 25 April 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests to change the narrative reason for his discharge. The applicant states, in pertinent part and in effect, he was discharged due to symptoms associated with PTSD. He was officially diagnosed with PTSD in 2010. Per the Board's Medical Officer, based on the information available for review at the time, the applicant had an extensive undisclosed Existed Prior to Service (EPTS) history of behavioral and mental conditions (residential treatment and psychiatric hospitalization for suicide attempt/drug overdose) that did not meet accession medical standards and manifested a month pre-deployment after the crystal methamphetamine overdose death of his fiancé and curtailed his deployment due to cutting (self-mutilation) while in theater. A limited review through the JLV (Joint Legacy Viewer) of the applicant's Veterans Affairs records notes 26 problems (21 VA- entered) including PTSD chronic, anxiety, depression, dizziness, neck pain, chest pain, low back pain, knee pain, head injury, chronic diarrhea, and others. The Veterans Affairs has service-connected the applicant at 70 percent for PTSD. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 21 June 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the narrative reason for the applicant's separation is inequitable based on the applicant's combat service and the circumstances surrounding the discharge (i.e. post-service PTSD diagnosis and 70% VA disability rating). Therefore, the board directed the issue of a new DD Form 214 changing the separation authority to AR 635-200, Chapter 5-17, and the narrative reason for separation to Condition, Not a Disability, with a corresponding separation code to JFV. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Personality Disorder / AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-13 / JFX / RE-3 / Honorable b. Date of Discharge: 18 August 2006 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 15 August 2006 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of mood and conduct. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: 15 August 2006 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 16 August 2006 / Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 18 August 2005 / 4 years, 18 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 21 / HS Graduate / 94 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-2 / 19D10, Cavalry Scout / 1 year d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None / NA e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: SWA / Iraq (30 June 2006 to 13 August 2006) f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM; ICM; GWOTSM; ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Counseling statement for being found to have a personality disorder that is preventing him from continuing his military duties to standard; being recommended for an involuntary separation. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None / NA j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 15 July 2006, indicates the applicant was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of mood and conduct; that the applicant had inadequate coping skills, nor maturity level to function as a Soldier; that the condition was a deeply ingrained maladaptive pattern of long standing duration which interferes with the applicant's ability to perform duty; that the disorder was so severe that the applicant's ability to function effectively in the military environment was significantly impaired; that the condition meets the criteria for separation under AR 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-13; and that separation was recommended. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 18 April 2016, and pre-separation counseling checklist. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None provided with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-13, in effect at the time, provided that a Soldier may be separated for a personality disorder, not amounting to disability under AR 635-40, when the condition interfered with assignment to or performance of duty. The regulation requires that the condition is a deeply ingrained maladaptive pattern of behavior of long duration that interferes with the Soldier's ability to perform military duties. The regulation also directs that commanders will not take action prescribed in this Chapter in lieu of disciplinary action and requires that the disorder is so severe that the Soldier's ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired. Army policy requires the award of a fully honorable discharge in such case or an uncharacterized discharge when the Soldier is in an entry-level status. For RA Soldiers, entry- level status is the first 180 days of continuous active duty service. Characterization of service under honorable conditions may be awarded to a Soldier who has been convicted of an offense by general court-martial or who has been convicted by more than one special court-martial in the current enlistment, period of obligated service, or any extension thereof. Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) provides the specific authorities (regulatory or directive), reasons for separating Soldiers from active duty, and the SPD codes to be entered on the DD Form 214. It identifies the SPD code of "JFX" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-13, Personality Disorder. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "JFX" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. 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." "Conditions documented in the record that can reasonably be determined to have existed at the time of discharge will be considered to have existed at the time of discharge. In cases in which PTSD or PTSD related conditions may be reasonably determined to have existed at the time of discharge, those conditions will be considered potential mitigating factors in the misconduct that caused the under other than honorable conditions characterization of service. Correction boards will exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in cases in which serious misconduct precipitated a discharge with a characterization of service other than honorable conditions. Potentially mitigating evidence of the existence of undiagnosed combat related PTSD or PTSD-related conditions as a causative factor in the misconduct resulting in discharge will be carefully weighed against the severity of the misconduct. PTSD is not a likely cause of premeditated misconduct. Correction Boards will also exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in all cases of misconduct by carefully considering the likely causal relationship of symptoms to the misconduct." 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests to change the narrative reason for his discharge. The applicant's available record of service, and the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The evidence of record shows the applicant, while deployed in Iraq, was diagnosed by competent medical authority with a condition of personality disorder with adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of mood and conduct. The medical authority further opined that that the applicant had inadequate coping skills, nor maturity level to function as a Soldier; that the condition was a deeply ingrained maladaptive pattern of long standing duration which interfered with the applicant's ability to perform duty; that the disorder was so severe that the applicant's ability to function effectively in the military environment was significantly impaired; that the condition meets the criteria for separation under AR 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-13; and that separation was recommended. The unit commander recommended an immediate discharge from the military based on the aforementioned condition. The applicant contends he was discharged due to symptoms associated with PTSD, and that he was officially diagnosed with PTSD in 2010. However, the service record contains no evidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnosis and the applicant did not submit any evidence to support the contention that the discharge was the result of any medical condition due to PTSD symptoms. The applicant requests to change the reason for his separation; however, the narrative reason for his separation is governed by specific directives. The narrative reason specified by AR 635- 5-1 for a discharge under Chapter 5, paragraph 5-13 is "Personality Disorder," and the separation code is JFX. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. The record does not contain any indication or evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command and all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. 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 21 June 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the narrative reason for the applicant's separation is inequitable based on the applicant's combat service and the circumstances surrounding the discharge (i.e. post-service PTSD diagnosis and 70% VA disability rating). Therefore, the board directed the issue of a new DD Form 214 changing the separation authority to AR 635-200, Chapter 5-17, and the narrative reason for separation to Condition, Not a Disability, with a corresponding separation code to JFV. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: Condition, Not a Disability d. Change Authority to: AR 635, Chapter 5-17 e. Change SPD / RE Code to: Change SPD to JFV / No Change to RE f. 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 AR20160008313 1