Docket No: 2438-19 Ref: Signature Date From: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records To: Secretary of the Navy Subj: REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD Ref: (a) 10 U.S.C. § 1552 (b) SECDEF memo, “Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requests by Veterans Claiming PTSD,” of 3 September 2014 (c) PDUSD memo, “Consideration of Discharge Upgrade Requests Pursuant to Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records by Veterans Claiming PTSD or TBI,” of 24 February 2016 (d) PDUSD memo, “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,” of 25 August 2017 Encl: (1) DD Form 149 w/ attachments (2) Advisory Opinion (AO), MLCS Docket No:of 8 January 2020 1. Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, a former enlisted sailor, filed enclosure (1) with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board) requesting correction to his narrative reason for separation on his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214). 2. The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 13 February 2020, and, pursuant to its regulations, determined the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record. Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, relevant portions of naval service records, as well as applicable statutes, regulations, 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 the Department of the Navy. b. Although enclosure (1) was not filed in a timely manner, it is in the interest of justice to review the application on its merits. c. Petitioner enlisted in the Navy and began a period of active duty on 24 June 1997. On 9 August 1999, he was hospitalized after ingesting ten naproxen pills, making suicide threats, and threatening to harm a master chief. He was diagnosed with a personality disorder with borderline features and as an alcohol abuser. His record is incomplete in that it does not contain all the documents pertaining to his administrative discharge but, based on his DD Form 214, it appears that after being afforded all of his rights, the separation authority directed discharge with a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service by reason of personality disorder. d. On 16 April 2003, the Board upgraded Petitioner’s characterization of service to honorable but denied his request to change his narrative reason for separation. e. Petitioner requested reconsideration of the Board’s previous denial to change his narrative reason for separation. He contends that “unfortunate reasons” such as his youth and being married, negatively impacted him and, rather than help him as he requested several times, his command “left [him] out to dry” and “made fun of” him and treated him as “less of a human.” He contends his chief told him to “get used to it” because it “won’t be [his] first marriage” since “we are sailors.” Petitioner further contends that his struggle with depression and the command’s lack of support resulted in the command sending him to “wash dishes and mess crank because [he] was a horrible sight to see.” While deployed, due to the purported continued lack of support and the added inability to communicate with his wife, he was “deemed so unstable that they sent [him] to the psych.” f. Petitioner contends his post-service accomplishments reflect justification for removal of the “personality disorder” narrative reason for separation. He contends he is currently a biomedical engineer by trade and works with dialysis units. He desires to finish his career working for the Department of Veterans Affairs but his separation status is preventing him from being hired. g. As part of the Board’s review, a qualified mental health provider reviewed Petitioner’s assertions and available records and provided the 8 January 2020 AO, enclosure (2). The AO states Petitioner did not submit medical records in support of his contention he was erroneously diagnosed with personality disorder, nor is there any evidence of an error or injustice in the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concludes Petitioner’s request warrants relief. The Board reviewed the application under the guidance provided in references (b) through (d). Specifically, the Board considered whether the application was the type that was intended to be covered by this policy. The Board, applying liberal consideration, determines that, although it was not error or unjust to discharge Petitioner by reason of convenience of the government due to a personality disorder, it would be in the interest of justice, in light of the potential for future negative implications, to change his narrative reason, separation code, and separation authority to reflect “secretarial authority.” RECOMMENDATION: In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action: Petitioner be issued a new DD Form 214 indicating the narrative reason for separation as “secretarial authority,” separation code as “JFF,” and separation authority as “MILPERSMAN 1910-164.” That a copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. That, upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs be informed that Petitioner’s application was received by the Board on 22 February 2019. 4. It is certified that a 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 Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, 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.