RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-00449 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her narrative reason for separation be changed. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: Her narrative reason for discharge, Personality Disorder, is improper and has branded her for life. A second medical opinion indicates this diagnosis was improper; however, the Air Force did not complete further testing to satisfy this judgment upon her. In support of her appeal, the applicant submits copies of a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) decision; a copy of her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty; a civilian medical evaluation; and a DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 1 March 2000 in the grade of airman basic (E-1). She was progressively promoted to the grade of airman first class (E-3) effective and with a date of rank of 1 July 2001. The applicant received two Letters of Reprimand (LOR), five Letters of Counseling (LOC), and a traffic citation between the periods of 31 October 2000 and 21 March 2002. A Mental Health Evaluation, dated 23 July 2002, indicates the applicant was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and suggests she was unsuitable for continued military service on the basis of that diagnosis. The author of the report indicates she would continue to have chronic emotional instability and impulsive behavior and was considered to be potentially dangerous based on a history of self-harming behavior. On 6 August 2002, the applicant was notified of her commander’s intent to recommend that she be discharged for a personality disorder that significantly impairs her ability to function in a military environment, under the provisions of Air Force Policy Directive 36-32 and Air Force Instruction 36-3208, paragraph 5.11.9. The applicant acknowledged receipt of her commander’s intent and submitted a statement in her own behalf. On 15 August 2002, the Staff Judge Advocate found the discharge case file to be legally sufficient and recommended she be honorably discharged without probation or rehabilitation. On 19 August 2002, the discharge authority approved the discharge as recommended and directed the applicant be discharged with an honorable characterization of service. On 22 August 2002, the applicant was honorably discharged with a reentry code of “2C” (Involuntary separated with an honorable discharge), a separation code of “JFX,” and a narrative reason for separation of “Personality Disorder.” She served 2 years, 5 months and 22 days on active duty. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends granting relief to the applicant in the form of changing her narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority” with the corresponding separation code; however, recommends no change in her reentry code. The BCMR Medical Consultant indicates the full mental health records, upon which the applicant’s diagnoses were made, were not available for review, including the records from an external provider. Even though it is evident she exercised poor judgment, as indicated by the derogatory information in her record, these incidents do not indicate a mental health disorder in and of themselves. The nomenclature assigned to a given set of symptoms may change, when under the care of a single provider over a progressive period of observation and treatment; or, when concurrently under the care of multiple providers. In this case, the applicant’s diagnosis bounced from “rule out” Personality Disorder, to a period of treatment for depression, to Dysthymia, to Borderline Features, to “mild borderline/histrionic characteristics.” Since her discharge, the applicant has received a diagnosis of Dysthymia by the DVA. The DVA Rating Decision, dated, 16 September 2006, indicates there was no evidence to substantiate a diagnosis of a personality disorder as listed on her DD Form 214. Based on the aforementioned, it is the BCMR Medical Consultant’s opinion the applicant has provided sufficient evidence that brings doubt upon the accuracy of the diagnosis resulting in her discharge. The complete BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 23 June 2009 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). This office has received no response as of this date. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice warranting a change in the applicant’s reason for separation and separation code. After reviewing the available evidence of record, it appears the applicant’s discharge was appropriate, given her record of disciplinary infractions; however, the inconsistency in her medical diagnosis over a period of several months, brings doubt upon the accuracy of the reason for discharge listed on her DD Form 214 Therefore, in the interest of justice, we concur with the opinion of BCMR Medical Consultant and adopt his rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, we recommend her record be corrected as indicated below. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 22 August 2002, she was discharged with a narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority” and a separation code of “KFF.” _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 10 September 2009, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2009- 00449 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dtd 25 Mar 09, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dtd 19 Jun 09. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Jun 09 Panel Chair AFBCMR BC-2009-00449 MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 22 August 2002, she was discharged with a narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority” and a separation code of “KFF.” Director Air Force Review Boards Agency