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 applicants 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 commanders
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 commanders
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 applicants 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 applicants 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 Consultants opinion the applicant has provided
sufficient evidence that brings doubt upon the accuracy of the
diagnosis resulting in her discharge.
The complete BCMR Medical Consultants 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 applicants reason for separation and separation
code. After reviewing the available evidence of record, it
appears the applicants 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
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