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. 
 
A three-member panel of the Board for Correction of Naval Records, sitting in executive session, considered your application on 17 October 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.  In addition, the Board considered the advisory opinions contained in Senior Medical Advisor CORB letter 1910 CORB: 002 of 4 September 2019 and Director CORB letter 1910 CORB: 001 of 9 September 2019; copies of which were previously provided to you for comment. 
 
A review of your record shows you entered active duty with the Navy Reserve in September 1988 and served until the completion of required active service on 31 May 1993.  After a mobilization in support of  in 2004-2005, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) granted you service connected disability ratings commencing in 2013.  In 2015, the VA rated you for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at 70%.  Subsequently, you were placed on the Reserve Retired List on 1 March 2017 based on your request. 
 
The Board carefully considered your arguments that you should be placed on the disability retirement list.  You assert that you were unfit for continued naval service at the time of your placement on the Reserve Retirement List based on your diagnosed PTSD condition and 70% rating by the VA.  Unfortunately, the Board disagreed with your rationale for relief.  In making their findings, the Board substantially concurred with the advisory opinions contained in Senior Medical Advisor CORB letter 1910 CORB: 002 of 4 September 2019 and Director CORB letter 1910 CORB: 001 of 9 September 2019.  Specifically, the Board found insufficient evidence your PTSD condition prevented you from performing the duties of your office, grade, rank or rating at the time of your transfer to the Reserve Retired List.  The Board examined your military performance after you were diagnosed with PTSD and rated by the VA at 70% in 2015 to determine whether you suffered from a significant occupational impairment due to your disability condition.  Your fitness reports ending on 31 July 2016 and 30 November 2016 show that you were serving as Chief of Staff for the Navy Reserve NAVCENT Medical Headquarters prior to your placement on the retirement list.  In those fitness reports, you received 5.0 trait marks for professional expertise and 4.0 in mission accomplishments.  Your overall trait averages were both above fleet standards for your paygrade and office despite receiving 2.0 trait marks for military bearing due to Body Composition Assessment failures.  In the Board’s opinion, these documented performance marks show that you were able to perform the duties of your office, grade, rank or rating despite your PTSD condition.  Further, the Board was not persuaded by your 70% VA rating since eligibility for compensation and pension disability ratings by the VA is tied to the establishment of service connection and is manifestation-based without a requirement that unfitness for military duty be demonstrated.  As explained earlier, your documented superior performance clearly demonstrated to the Board that you did not suffer from a significant enough occupational impairment due to your PTSD condition to meet the unfitness standard.  Accordingly, the Board found insufficient evidence of error or injustice to warrant a change to your record. 
 
Regarding your request for a personal appearance, the Board determined that a personal appearance with or without counsel will not materially add to their understanding of the issue(s) involved.  Therefore, the Board determined that a personal appearance was not necessary and considered your case based on the evidence of record. 
 
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 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.