DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490 Docket No: 3907-18 Ref: Signature Date Dear This is in reference to your application for correction of your naval record pursuant to Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552. After careful and conscientious consideration of the entire record, the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board) found the evidence submitted was insufficient to establish the existence of probable material error or injustice. Consequently, your application has been denied. Although your application was not filed in a timely manner, the Board found it in the interest of justice to waive the statute of limitations and consider your application on its merits. A three-member panel of the Board (Board), sitting in executive session, considered your application on 22 July 2019. The names and votes of the members of the panel will be furnished upon request. Your allegations of error and injustice were reviewed in accordance with administrative regulations and procedures applicable to the proceedings of this Board. Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of your application, together with all material submitted in support thereof, relevant portions of your naval record, and applicable statutes, regulations, and policies, and the 15 May 2019 advisory opinion (AO). You enlisted in the Marine Corps and began a period of active duty on 27 March 1984. On 21 May 1984, you were counseled concerning lack of reasonable effort to perform training and inability to adapt to a military environment. On 23 May 1984, you were evaluated by the mental health unit to determine if you were fit for duty given your training failure. You were diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. Administrative separation was highly recommended because the mental health evaluation stated there was a high probability that you would act out and may become violent. On 24 May 1984, you were advised of administrative separation proceedings against you. On the same day you were discharged from the Marine Corps on the basis of entry level performance and conduct, and received an entry level separation (ELS). In your petition to the Board, you request an upgrade to your characterization of service from ELS to general in part so that you may receive medical benefits. You provided a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis with accompanying documentation. Your request was fully and carefully considered by the Board in light of the Secretary of Defense's 3 September 2014 memorandum, “Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requested by Veterans Claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” of the 25 August 2017 memorandum “Clarifying Guidance to Military Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Requests by Veterans for Modification of their Discharge Due to Mental Health Conditions, Sexual Assault, or Sexual Harassment,” and the 25 July 2018 memorandum, “Guidance to Military Discharge Review boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Regarding Equity, Injustice, or Clemency Determinations.” As part of the review process, a licensed clinical psychologist reviewed your assertions and the available records, and provided the Board with an AO on 15 May 2019. The AO noted that you submitted limited medical records noting a diagnosis of PTSD. The AO opined there was insufficient information to attribute the PTSD diagnosis to your military training given the length of time that lapsed between your service and the diagnosis. The AO was mailed to you on 16 May 2019, and you were given 30 days to submit a response. When you did not provide a response within the 30-day timeframe, your case was submitted for Board consideration. The Board reviewed your application and the mitigating circumstances cited in your request including your contention you were suffering from PTSD. The Board took into account the AO and considered that your record reflects approximately two months of military service during which time no traumatic experience was identified. The Board noted that you were evaluated by mental health on 23 May 1984, and diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. The Board determined that your ELS was properly based on the failure to adapt to a military environment. The Board concluded that your administrative separation for entry level performance and conduct was issued without error or injustice and no corrective action is warranted. It is regretted that the circumstances of your case are such that favorable action cannot be taken. You are entitled to have the Board reconsider its decision upon the submission of new matters, which will require you to complete and submit a new DD Form 149. New matters are those not previously presented to or considered by the Board. In this regard, it is important to keep in mind that a presumption of regularity attaches to all official records. Consequently, when applying for a correction of an official naval record, the burden is on the applicant to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.