DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY ·spARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS . " 701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490 Docket .No: 1 Apr 16 6371-15 From: To: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records Secretary of the Navy. Ref: (a) Title 10 U.S.C. 1552 Encl: (1) DD Form 149 w/attachments (2) Subject's naval record 1 . Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a) Subject, hereinafter referred to as Petitioner, filed enclosure (1) with this Board requesting, in effect, that the applicable naval record be COFrected to upgrade his characterization of service to Honorable and change the narrative reason of his discharge to disability. reviewed Petitioner' s allegations of error and injustice on 1 April 2016 and, pursuant to its regulations, determined that the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record. Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, naval records, and applicable statut es, r egulations and policies. 3. The Board., having reviewed all the facts. of record pertaining to Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice, finds as follows: a. Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulations within t he Department of the Navy. b. Petitioner entered active duty with t he Marine Corps in July 2005. On 18 July 2007, he expressed suicidal ideations to a Family Service Center counselor resulting in a mental health examination. that concluded he possessed a personality disorder. c . On 30 August 2007, Petiti oner was recommended by his command for administrative separation due to his diagnosed personality disorder. His command recommended him for an Honorable characterization of service. d. 15 October 2007, Petitioner's administrative separat~9n was approved by the Commanding General with a General characterization of service. Petitioner was discharged on 26 October 2007 with career performance and conduct t rait averages of 4.3/4/4 respectively. e. Subsequent to his discharge in 2007, the Petitioner received a 10% disability rating for Depression from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The rating was increased to 30% in 2009. CONCLUSION Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting the following partial corrective action. I Ii The Board concluded that the Petitioner's performance in the Marine Corps deserves an Honorable characterization of service based on his I traits averages and the lack of misconduct in his record. The fact Petitioner was diagnosed and separated at t.he convenience of the government for a personality disorder, does not in itself, warrant a downgrading of his characterization of service to a General. Regarding Petitioner's request for a disability discharge, the Board disagreed with his rat ionale for relie·f. Despit e the VA' s decision to grant him a service connected disability rating for depression, there was no evidence that he was misdiagnosed with a personality disorder I prior to his .discharge from the Marine Corps . In addition, there was I no evidence presented or in his record to support a finding that Petitioner was unfit for continued naval service due to depression. The fact the Marine Corps determined Petitioner's personality disorder made him incompatible with service in the Marine Corps does not equate to a finding o~ unfitness for conti nued naval service due to depression. Accordingly, the Board felt the Petitioner's request for a medical discharge was not supported by the evidence but determined the characterization of his discharge should be upgraded to Honorable. RECOMMENDATION: That Petitioner's naval record be corrected, where appropriate, to show that': a. Petitioner received an Honorable characterization of service. b. A copy of this Report of Proceedings will be filed in Petitioner's naval record . 4. It is certified that quorum was present at the Board's review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled matter. 5. Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6 (e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for C9rrection of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regul ations, Section 723.6(e)) and having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing corrective action, · taken under the authority of reference (a), has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy. ..y 2 0 2015 s . .... .' Executive Director 3