1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 17 January 2019 b. Date Received: 31 January 2019 c. Counsel: 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant did not properly annotate the enclosed application requesting a possible discharge upgrade. However, the Army Discharge Review Board considered the applicant for a possible upgrade as instructed in pertinent part by Department of Defense Instruction 1332.28 which stipulates that a request for review from an applicant without an honorable discharge shall be treated as a request for a change to an honorable discharge unless the applicant requests a specific change to another character of discharge. The applicant requests a change from an uncharacterized discharge to a medical discharge. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, initially hurt the hip during PT, which hindered the quality of performance and the treatment from peers due to this caused depression. The applicant's depression continued to get worse and developed into a server case of insomnia. Per the Board's Medical Officer, a voting member, based on the information available for review at the time in the service record, the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA), and Joint Legacy Viewer (JLV), notes indicate diagnoses of Adjustment Disorder with anxiety/ with anxiety and depressed, mood/with depressed mood and Phase of Life Circumstance Problem. In summary, the applicant's discharge was appropriate. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 25 September 2019, 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: Condition, Not A Disability / AR 635- 200 / Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-17 / JFV / RE-3 / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 22 October 2014 c. Separation Facts: Yes (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 9 October 2014 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons for her discharge; she was evaluated by Community Mental Health on 3 October 2014 and diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood. She was hospitalized at Southside Regional Medical Center from 27 August 2014 to 10 September 2014 for suicidal ideation, auditory hallucinations, and depressive symptomatology. She was then hospitalized on 11 September 2014 to 26 September 2014 for an altered mental state and selective mutism. Due to her current well- being, it was highly unlikely that she would become a productive member of the United States Army. (3) Recommended Characterization: Uncharacterized (4) Legal Consultation Date: 14 October 2014, applicant waived legal counsel. (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 17 October 2014 / Uncharacterized 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 27 May 2014 / 3 years, 26 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 24 years / HS Graduate / 98 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / None / 4 months, 26 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: A negative counseling statements dated 27 August 2014, for initiation of Chapter 5-17 separation; and a reception and integration counseling. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 3 October 2014, revealed the applicant had an Axis I diagnosis of an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (acute; likely symptom remission following separation). Based upon clinical interview, medical records review, and mental status examination, it was the professional conclusion of that it was highly unlikely that the applicant would become a productive member of the United States Army. It was clearly not in the best interest of the Army or the applicant to retain her at this present time. She had no potential to meet mobilization requirements, clearly had no potential for useful service under conditions of full mobilization, and discharge from the Army under Chapter 11 is strongly recommend. Additionally, given the recent history of two psychiatric hospitalizations with one associated with possible suicidality, it is highly recommended that Command impose a RE-4 discharge code to preclude her from future military entry. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149 (two pages); continuation of block 6, issues; Maricopa Integrated Health System (six pages); Report of Medical History (three pages); and an Army Physical Fitness Test Scorecard. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-17 specifically provides that a Soldier may be separated for other physical or mental conditions not amounting to a disability, which interferes with assignment to or performance of duty and requires that the diagnosis be so severe that the Soldier's ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired. AR 635-200, paragraph 5-1, states that a Soldier being separated under this paragraph will be awarded a characterization of service of honorable, under honorable conditions, or an uncharacterized description of service if in entry-level status. National Defense Authorization Act 2017 provided specific guidance to the Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records and Discharge Review Boards when considering discharge upgrade requests by Veterans claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in connection with combat or sexual assault or sexual harassment as a basis for discharge review. Further, it provided that Boards will include, as a voting board member, a physician trained in mental health disorders, a clinical psychologist, or a psychiatrist when the discharge upgrade claim asserts a mental health condition, including PTSD; TBI; as a basis for the discharge. In August 2017, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness provided further clarifying guidance to the Military Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records when considering requests by Veterans for modification of their discharge due to mental health conditions, including PTSD; TBI; sexual assault; or sexual harassment. Liberal consideration will be given to Veterans petitioning for discharge relief when the application for relief is based in whole or in part on matters relating to mental health conditions, including PTSD; TBI; sexual assault; or sexual harassment. Special consideration will be given to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determinations that document a mental health condition, including PTSD; TBI; or sexual assault/harassment potentially contributed to the circumstances resulting in a less than honorable discharge characterization. Special consideration will also be given in cases where a civilian provider confers diagnoses of a mental health condition, including PTSD; TBI; or sexual assault/harassment if the case records contain narratives supporting symptomatology at the time of service or when any other evidence which may reasonably indicate that a mental health condition, including PTSD; TBI; or sexual assault/harassment existed at the time of discharge might have mitigated the misconduct that caused a discharge of lesser characterization. Conditions documented in the service 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 a mental health condition, including PTSD; TBI; or sexual assault/harassment 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 characterization of service in question. All Boards will exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in cases in which serious misconduct precipitated a discharge with a less than Honorable characterization of service. Potentially mitigating evidence of the existence of undiagnosed combat related PTSD, PTSD-related conditions due to TBI or sexual assault/harassment as causative factors 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. Caution shall be exercised 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 did not properly annotate the enclosed application requesting a possible discharge upgrade. However, the Army Discharge Review Board considered the applicant for a possible upgrade as instructed in pertinent part by Department of Defense Instruction 1332.28 which stipulates that a request for review from an applicant without an honorable discharge shall be treated as a request for a change to an honorable discharge unless the applicant requests a specific change to another character of discharge. The applicant requests a change from an uncharacterized discharge to a medical discharge. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The evidence of record shows the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 635- 200, Chapter 5-17, by reason condition, not a disability, for being evaluated by Community Mental Health on 3 October 2014 and diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood. A Soldier is in entry-level status (ELS) for the first 180 days of continuous active duty. The purpose of the entry-level status is to provide the Soldier a probationary period. Army Regulation 635-200 also provides, except in cases of serious misconduct that a Soldier's service will be uncharacterized when his separation is initiated while the Soldier is in entry level status (ELS). The applicant requests a change from an uncharacterized discharge to a medical discharge. The applicant's Chapter 5-17 discharge was a medical discharge, condition not a disability. A general discharge (GD) under honorable conditions discharge is not authorized under ELS conditions and an honorable discharge (HD) is rarely ever granted. An HD may be given only in cases which are clearly warranted by unusual circumstances involving outstanding personal conduct and/or performance of duty. The applicant seeks relief contending, she initially hurt her hip during PT, which hindered the quality of her performance and the treatment from her peers due to this caused depression; and her depression continued to get worse and developed into a server case of insomnia. The record of evidence shows that on 3 October 2014, the applicant underwent a mental status evaluation which indicates she was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (acute; likely symptom remission following separation). The uncharacterized description of service accurately reflects the applicant's overall record of service. An uncharacterized discharge is neither positive nor negative and it is not meant to be a negative reflection of a Soldier's military service. It merely means that the Soldier has not been in the Army long enough for his or her character of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise. 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 25 September 2019, 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 Authority to: No Change e. Change SPD / RE Code 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 AR20190002311 5