From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To:      Secretary of the Navy   
 
Subj:    REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF     
             
              
Ref:  (a) 10 U.S.C. §1552  
            (b) SECDEF Memo of 3 Sep 14 “Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for  
                Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requests by  
                Veterans Claiming PTSD”   
            (c) PDUSD Memo of 24 Feb 16 “Consideration of Discharge Upgrade Requests Pursuant 
                to Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval 
                Records by Veterans Claiming PTSD or TBI” 
            (d) PDUSD Memo of 25 Aug 17 “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” 
           (e)  USECDEF Memo, “Guidance to Military Discharge Review Boards and Boards for  
                Correction of Military/Naval Records Regarding Equity, Injustice, or Clemency     Determinations,” of 25 July 2018 
 
Encl:   (1) DD Form 149  
        (2) Advisory Opinion (AO) of 10 Aug 20  
  
1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, filed enclosure (1) with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board) requesting the removal of her Narrative Reason for Separation “Other Physical/Mental Condition – Personality Disorders” from her Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) or change the reason to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  She also impliedly requested that the Separation Authority and Separation Code be changed.  Enclosures (1) and (2) applies. 
  
2.  The Board, consisting of  reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 9 October 2020, and pursuant to its regulations, determined that the partial 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 the naval records, and applicable statutes, regulations, policies, post-service medical diagnosis and enclosure (2), an advisory opinion (AO) provided by a qualified mental health professional. 
 
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.  Petitioner enlisted in the Navy and began a period of active duty on 2 April 1984. On 5 December 1984, medical personnel diagnosed Petitioner with a Mixed Personality Disorder, Emotionally Unstable and Schizoid Features, that existed prior her enlistment, of such a severity to render her incapable of serving adequately in the naval service, and if she were to be retained on active duty, the likelihood of future suicidal behavior was high. 
 
     c.  On 7 December 1984, the Petitioner was notified of administrative discharge action by reason of convenience of the government due to Personality Disorders. 
 
     d.  On 27 December 1984, Petitioner’s commanding officer forwarded the case to the separation authority recommending that Petitioner receive a General discharge due to a Personality Disorder. 
 
     e.  On 22 December 1984, the separation authority directed that Petitioner be separated from the Navy with the “Type warranted by her service record.” 
 
     f.  On 31 January 1985, Petitioner was discharged from the Navy with an Honorable characterization of service. 
  
     g.  With her application, Petitioner stated that her dad was in the Navy and was a very strict manipulative, controlling, abusive both physically and mental, angry man who took it out on her family. She added that she was afraid of him all of her life, has been seen by many psychologist and psychiatrist throughout her life, and was always told she was stressed and had anxiety, but all this time it was PTSD, which she is now being seen for, and has medical disabilities and cannot sleep.     
  
     h.  Enclosure (2), states that Petitioner’s in-service records contain a diagnosis of Personality Disorder, but no other symptoms or behavioral changes indicative of additional mental health conditions.  Petitioner has submitted correspondence indicating a post-discharge diagnosis of PTSD and Major Depression stemming from childhood abuse unrelated to military service. Though Petitioner claimed that military service “aggravated her condition,” she had not submitted any clinical records or objective evidence of traumatic events that occurred in-service, or of any psychological symptoms or behavioral changes due to a diagnosed mental health condition other than her Personality Disorder.  Therefore, based on the available evidence, there is insufficient evidence of PTSD or other mental health conditions attributable to Petitioner’s military service that would support Petitioner’s request to change her narrative reason for separation. 
 
     i.  Petitioner’s request was fully and carefully considered by the Board in light of the Secretary of Defense’s Memorandum, “Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requested by Veterans Claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” of 3 September 2014 and the "Clarifying Guidance to Military Discharge Review Board 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" memorandum of 25 August 2017. 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concluded that the Petitioner’s request warrants favorable action in the form of partial relief.  Although he was diagnosed with a personality disorder, the Board concludes that, her Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) should be changed to read that the narrative reason for her discharge was “Secretarial Authority” to eliminate the possibilities of invasive questions.  The Board voted not to change the reason for her discharge to PTSD, given the AO finding insufficient evidence of PTSD or other mental health conditions attributable to Petitioner’s military service that would support Petitioner’s request to change her narrative reason for separation. 
  
In view of the foregoing, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting the following partial corrective action. 
 
RECOMMENDATION  
  
Petitioner’s naval record is corrected to show that on 31 January 1985, the separation authority was “MILPERSMAN 1910-164.”   
 
Petitioner’s naval record is corrected to show that on 31 January 1985, the reason for discharge was “Secretarial Authority.”   
 
Petitioner’s naval record be further corrected to show that on 31 January 1985, the separation code was “JFF.”   
 
Petitioner be issued a new Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD 214).   
 
No further action be granted. 
 
A copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 
 
Upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs is informed that Petitioner’s application was received by the Board on 1 May 2019. 
   
4.  It is certified that 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 Section 6(c) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(c)), 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.