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

Docket No: 6262-19   
Ref: Signature date 

This letter 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 that the evidence submitted was insufficient to establish the existence of probable material error or injustice.  Consequently, your application has been denied. 

A three-member panel of the Board, 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, as well as applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. 

You enlisted in the Navy and began a period of active duty on 12 April 2017.  One week later, on 19 April 2017, you were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and excoriation disorder (a mental illness related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) characterized by the repeated urge or impulse to pick at one’s skin to the extent that psychological and/or physical damage is caused).  A medical officer determined that these conditions existed prior to your entry into the service and that they were sufficiently severe to significantly impair your ability to function in a military environment.  Additionally, the medical officer noted that you exhibited re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms, and hyperarousal symptoms, and that you reported a long history of skin-picking symptoms and failed attempts to stop or decrease the behavior.  On 2 May 2017, administrative action was initiated was initiated to separate you from the naval service due to erroneous enlistment as evidenced by a physical or mental condition that existed prior to entry into the naval service.  After being advised of all of your procedural rights, you waived them.  On 11 May 2017, your commanding officer (CO) stated that your “disqualifying psychiatric conations and history of self-harming behavior, excoriation, affects [your] potential for performance of expected duties and responsibilities while on active duty and poses a risk if [you are] retained in the naval service.” Your CO recommended that you be discharged with an uncharacterized entry-level separation (ELS) due to erroneous entry into the service, and assigned a reentry (RE) code of RE-4, and forwarded your case to the separation authority for review.  The separation authority agreed and, on 19 May 2017, you were so discharged. 

You request the Board change your RE code so that you can reenlist.  You assert that you were misdiagnosed at recruit training.  You claim that you do not currently have, nor have you ever had PTSD, and that you are willing and capable of serving the country.  In support of your petition, you attached a letter dated 15 November 2017 from a clinician who examined you and did not “see not see any evidence of PTSD or history of self-harming behaviors.”  You also attached letters from Navy personnel who never served with you, but whom have met you, and support your desire to serve. 

The Board carefully weighed all potentially mitigating factors, such as your record of service and contentions and concluded these factors were insufficient to warrant a change to your RE code as the Board found no probable material error or injustice in your service records.
 
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 the 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 demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice. 

Sincerely, 

1/5/2020