IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 23 November 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100013822 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests correction of item 17 (Member Was Provided Complete Dental Examination and All Appropriate Dental Services and Treatment Within 90 Days Prior to Separation) of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show an "X" in the "No" block. 2. The applicant states that item 17 of his DD Form 214 should show "No" for the following reasons: * dental work was not completed before discharge * he was still on active duty on 26 April 2010 * noted on dental records prior to terminal leave * experienced pain in mouth while on terminal leave * dental consultation confirmed that pain was caused by wisdom teeth and removal was necessary 3. The applicant provided copies of the following: * DD Form 214 * Standard Form 603A (Medical Record – Dental – Continuation) * Aspen Dental form * DD Form 2870 (Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or Dental Information) CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 27 July 2004. 2. The applicant submitted a Standard Form 603A which shows he received a periodic oral examination on 29 January 2010. Section 9 (Subsequent Diseases and Abnormalities) shows that his wisdom teeth were outlined by the attending dentist. Section 10 (Services Provided) shows he was classified as Class 2 on 29 January 2010. 3. The applicant submitted a DD Form 2870, dated 23 February 2010, authorizing the Fort Richardson Dental Clinic to release his dental information. 4. The applicant submitted a form from Aspen Dental, dated 15 April 2010, which shows he was treated for a problem with this wisdom teeth. Aspen Dental recommended that the applicant's teeth be extracted prior to his insurance cancellation. 5. The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 26 April 2010 with 5 years and 9 months of active service. 6. Item 17 of the applicant's DD Form 214 reflects an "X" in the "Yes" block. 7. Item 21 (Signature of Member Being Separated) shows he digitally signed his DD Form 214 on 26 March 2010. 8. The Department of Defense Policy on Standardization of Oral Health and Readiness Classification, dated 4 June 2002, provides that oral health is vital to the force health protection of service members. The oral health of uniformed personnel shall be classified as follows: a. Class 1 oral health is used for patients with a current dental examination who do not require dental treatment or reevaluation. Class 1 patients are worldwide deployable. b. Class 2 is used for patients with a current dental examination who require non-urgent dental treatment or reevaluation for oral conditions which are likely to result in dental emergencies within 12 months. Class 2 patients are worldwide deployable. c. Class 3 is used for patients who require urgent or emergent dental treatment. Class 3 patients normally are not considered to be worldwide deployable. d. Class 4 is used for patients who require dental examinations or patients with unknown dental classifications. Class 4 patients are not considered to be worldwide deployable. 9. Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations - Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It states that if a Soldier has completed at least 180 days of continuous active service at the time of separation and if he or she was provided a complete dental examination and all appropriate dental services and treatment had been completed within 90 days prior to separation, item 17 will be marked "Yes." The source document used for validating the entry in item 17 is the Soldier's Standard Form 603 (Medical Record – Dental). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends that his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show he did not receive all of the dental services that he was authorized within 90 days of separation. 2. Since the documents provided by the applicant show he still required dental treatment as of 15 April 2010 and since he was separated on 26 April 2010, any doubt whether all required dental treatment was completed before his separation should be resolved in his favor. 3. The applicant's Standard Form 603A, the designated source document, clearly shows the applicant did receive a complete dental examination but required further dental services and treatment within 90 days prior to his separation. Accordingly, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show an "X" under "No." BOARD VOTE: ___X____ ____X___ ___X____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by deleting the "X" under "Yes" from item 17 of his DD Form 214 for the period ending 26 April 2010 and replacing it with an "X" under "No." ___________X_____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100013822 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1