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


Docket No: 7143-19 
Ref: Signature Date 


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. 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 application on its merits. A three-member panel of the Board for Correction of Naval Records, sitting in executive session, considered your application on 25 November 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. 

You enlisted in the Marine Corps and began a period of active duty on 22 September 2003.  On 13 December 2004, you were evaluated by a staff psychiatrist after reckless driving and suicidal ideations.  You were diagnosed with personality disorder with paranoid, avoidance and borderline features.  You were recommended for expeditious administrative separation.  On 4 February 2005, Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion recommended that you be administratively discharged with a general characterization of service on the basis of convenience of the government due to a personality disorder.  You were discharged from the Marine Corps on 8 March 2005, on the basis of personality disorder, and received a general characterization of service and a reentry (RE) code of RE-4. 

You request a service connected disability and associated discharge, a change to your characterization of service, and a change to your narrative reason for separation.  The state you have a service-connected medical condition (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and assert that your Certificate of Release or Discharge (DD Form 214) does not accurately reflect your condition.  

You contend that you are unable to obtain full benefits, including the GI Bill.  You provide a Veterans Affairs (VA) award letter that assigns a 70% combined evaluation rating and a gross benefit with an effective date of 1 February 2018. 

The Board, in its review of your entire record and application, carefully weighed all potentially mitigating factors, including your contention that you have a service-connected condition that merits a disability discharge and that your current characterization of service limits your access to certain benefits including the GI Bill. The Board noted that you were diagnosed with Personality Disorder while in the Marine Corps. SECNAVINST 1850.4 series specifies that personality disorder is among the Non-Compensable Medical Conditions, and therefore a disability determination with a compensable rating based on your diagnosis of personality disorder is not warranted under the applicable regulatory guidance.  The Board noted that you state in your application that you have service-connected PTSD and you have a 70% disability evaluation from the VA.  The Board noted that the disability rating by the VA is manifestation-based and is not determinative on whether a condition impacted an individual’s fitness for duty at the time of her military service.  The Board noted that you were discharged on the basis of the personality disorder diagnosis, and that your chain of command and Medical recommended an administrative separation vice processing through a Medical Board/Physical Evaluation Board.   The Board considered your administrative separation package as reflected in your available service record and concluded that your current discharge on the basis of personality disorder with a general characterization of service is supported by the information in your record, and no corrective action is warranted.
  
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