IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	    11 June 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20120021039 


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 Board Certification Pay (BCP).

2.  The applicant states that after obtaining her board certification in dermatology, dated 28 July 2011, she never began receiving monthly BCP.  She had received her Incentive Special Pay (ISP) for dermatology but was not aware of this BCP.  She first discovered that she was entitled to this monthly pay in July 2012 and she took the first steps toward remedying the error by notifying the Finance Office in her current deployed location in August 2012.  Her records indicate that she is a board-certified dermatologist (60L).  She was unaware that there was a special pay for board certification in addition to the yearly ISP for dermatology.  Once she found out about this, a review of her leave and earnings statements verified that she had not been receiving this pay.

3.  The applicant provides:

* Medical Corps BCP Certification Form
* American Board of Dermatology diploma

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer of the Army and executed an oath of office on 4 April 2003.  She attended Emory University and received a Doctor of Medicine degree on 14 May 2007.

2.  She was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer in the rank of captain with concurrent call to active duty and executed an oath of office in June 2007.

3.  On 28 July 2011, the American Board of Dermatology certified her as a diplomate for the practice of the specialty of dermatology.

4.  An advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) on 11 February 2013 in the processing of this case.  The OTSG official stated:

	a.  Requests for BCP are initiated by the officer through the supporting Human Resources office.  A review of the applicant's records and available special pay and finance data indicates her BCP was initiated on 1 March 2012 and expired on 31 December 2012.  She did not receive BCP from 28 July 2011 to 28 February 2012.

	b.  She was eligible to receive BCP from 28 July 2011 to 28 February 2012.  Utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date (HPPED) or Medical Special Pay (MSP) date of 6 June 2007 for the correct pay-rate level, the retroactive payment for this total period is approximately $1,458.00 before taxes.  The exact payment should be determined by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

	c.  The OTSG cannot initiate BCP for this period as the period of arrears exceeds their authority as granted by DFAS.

5.  The advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant, but she did not respond.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The OTSG database shows the applicant was board certified on 28 July 2011 and has been receiving the correct BCP.  However, based on the applicant's request, finance data, and the supporting documentation, OTSG officials determined the applicant started receiving BCP on 1 March 2012.  OTSG officials also determined she did not receive BCP from 28 July 2011 to 28 February 2012.

2.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant's records should be corrected as recommended below.

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 showing the applicant applied for and was authorized payment of BCP for the period 28 July 2011 to 28 February 2012 utilizing an HPPED or MSP date of 1 June 2007 for the correct pay-rate level.



      ____________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)                                         AR20120021039



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20120021039



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