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  
     
Encl:   (1) DD Form 149 with attachments 
        (2) Advisory Opinion, Docket No:  NR20190003253 of 14 May 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 the Board correct his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to reflect a change to his narrative reason for separation.   
 
2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 25 June 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, and 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 on 4 May 2000.  His record is incomplete in that it does not contain the documents pertaining to his administrative discharge but, based on his DD Form 214, it appears that after being afforded all of his procedural rights, the separation authority directed his discharge with an honorable characterization of service by reason of convenience of the government due to personality disorder.  On 31 March 2003, he was discharged.   
 
 d.  Petitioner contends he has been diagnosed, post-service, with depression but has never been given a diagnosis of personality disorder “by any psychiatrists dating back to my time of discharge more than 15 years ago.”  He further contends several potential employers have denied him employment due to the stigma that goes with a personality disorder diagnosis. 
 
e.  As part of the Board’s review, a qualified mental health provider reviewed Petitioner’s assertions and available records and provided an AO dated 14 May 2020.  The AO stated that based on the available evidence, there is insufficient evidence to corroborate an in-service diagnosis of depression or to refute the in-service diagnosis of personality disorder.  
 
CONCLUSION: 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concludes Petitioner’s request warrants relief.   
 
The Board determined there was insufficient evidence to establish an error in the reason for discharge but, in light of the potential for future negative implications, determined Petitioner’s narrative reason, separation code, and separation authority should be changed to “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 19 March 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.