DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 

BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 
701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 
ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490 

Docket No. 7515-18 
Ref: Signature Date 

Dear 
This is in reference to your application for correction of your naval record pursuant to the 
provisions of 10 USC 1552. After careful and conscientious consideration of the entire record, 
the 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 case on its merits. A three-member 
panel of the Board for Correction of Naval Records, sitting in executive session, considered your 
application on 21 February 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. 

A review of your record shows that you entered active duty with the Marine Corps in October 
1997. You underwent an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction in August 2003 after 
injuring your knee during a command event. After continued symptoms of knee pain, a medical 
board referred you to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) for status post right knee ACL 
reconstruction. However, the PEB found you fit for continued active duty on 24 March 2005. 
After continuing to suffer from bilateral knee pain, you requested to be administratively 
separated for condition not a disability on 12 June 2006. Your request was approved on 26 June 
2006 resulting in your discharge from the Marine Corps on 3 August 2006. Your DD Form 214 
reflects that you were discharged for “disability (other)” and you were issued a separation code 
of “JFR1.” 

The Board carefully considered your arguments that your separation code reflects that your 
condition existed prior to your entry into the Marine Corps. You provided a document available 
on the internet from Touchtone Research Group LLC that lists “JFR1” as a separation code for 
“physical disability that existed prior to service and not aggravated by the Service, without 
severance pay, USMC.” Unfortunately, the Board determined no relief was warranted in your 
case since your separation code is consistent with your narrative reason for separation. Military 
eparation codes are not promulgated to the public but the Board verified that your separation 
code matches your narrative reason for separation. The internet document you relied on in filing 
this application is not accurate and the cover letter states that Touchtone Research Group LLC 
cannot affirmatively state the codes provided in their list are accurate. For future reference, 
according to applicable military regulations, “JFR1” is the separation code issued to 
servicemembers who are separated from active duty due to “Disability (Other).” Accordingly, 
the Board found no error or injustice warranting a change to your record. 

Despite the Board’s decision not to change your record, as mentioned above, your record 
documents that you were discharged for a condition not amounting to a disability. The Board 
felt this is inconsistent with the narrative reason for separation and separation code listed on your DD Form 214 which indicates you were discharged for a disability condition. However, it is 
Board policy not to correct a record if it could result in adverse consequences for Petitioners. By changing your narrative reason for separation to “condition not a disability,” the Board 
concluded it may negatively impact future eligibility for government benefit programs since 
servicemembers with disability separations sometimes qualify for benefits reserved for retired 
servicemembers. Therefore, no change was recommended in your case despite the existence of 
the possible error. If you feel the need to have your DD Form 214 changed to accurately reflect 
you were discharged for condition not a disability, you may request the change to Headquarters, 
U.S. Marine Corps, 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103. 

It is regretted that the circumstances of your case are such that favorable action cannot be taken 
at this time. You are entitled to have the Board reconsider its decision upon the submission of 
new and material evidence. New evidence is evidence not previously 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. 

Sincerely, 

2/25/2019 

Executive Director