DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2012-01689 
COUNSEL:  NONE 
HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 
 
                       RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 
 
IN THE MATTER OF: 
 
   
 
   
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 
 
His narrative reason for separation be changed from personality 
disorder  to  service  connected  injury,  disability,  retired 
medically.   
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
 
1. His retroactive benefits and medically retired classification 
should be mandated due to recent news reports of services using 
personality  disorder  to  avoid  medical  retirement  and  his 
29 years  of  Department  of  Veterans  Affairs  (DVA)  care  for 
service connected conditions.  
 
2. Due to his traumatic brain injury, he did not know he could 
have his narrative reason for separation corrected until his DVA 
organization informed him.  He has some cognitive problems.   
 
In  support  of  his  request,  the  applicant  lists  his  VA  regional 
office location and claim number in item 9 of his DD Form 149, 
Application  for  Correction  of  Military  Record  under  the 
Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552.   
 
The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.  
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
 
The  applicant  enlisted  in  the  Regular  Air  Force  on 
26 August 1982  and  was  progressively  promoted  to  the  grade  of 
Airman  First  Class  (A1C),  E-3,  effective  and  with  date  of  rank 
of 9 October 1982.   
 
On 24 October 1983, the applicant’s commander notified him that 
he was recommending him for discharge from the Air Force for a 
character  and  behavior  disorder,  specifically  a  personality 
disorder, under the authority of Air Force Regulation (AFR) 39-
10,  Administrative  Separation  of  Airmen;  paragraph  5-12i  (1).  
The specific reasons for the proposed discharge were;  
 

  a.  the  applicant  was  counseled  on  numerous  occasions  by  his 
military  supervisors,  first  sergeant,  and  squadron  commander 
regarding  his  negative  attitude,  improper  treatment  of  co-
workers,  disregard  for  his  chain  of  command  and  failure  to 
follow directions.   
 
  b.  he  was  administered  an  Article  15  for  making  a  false 
official statement to his squadron commander concerning his need 
to draw advance leave.  The imposed punishment was forfeiture of 
$100.00 and a suspended reduction to the grade of Airman, E-2. 
 
  c.  a  mental  health  evaluation  indicated  he  had  a  chronic 
personality disorder (DSM III 301-89).  The evaluation revealed: 
 
     
1.  Distinct  organic  brain  dysfunction  secondary  to 
head injury and concussion with prolonged coma as a result of an 
auto  accident  on  1  June  1983.    The  applicant  was  treated  for 
manifestations  of  post-concussion  syndrome;  poor  recent  recall, 
ease of irritability, emotional instability, recurrent headache, 
loss of energy; and decreased concentration and attention span.  
 
     
2.  The applicant described a long history of problems 
with  exaggeration  of  self  accomplishment  and  worth;  preceding 
his head injury.  It appeared these traits were part of a basic 
personality disorder and may have been exaggerated by the injury 
but  not  a  direct  result  of  the  injury.    The  traits  were 
manifested  by  poor  judgment,  impulsivity,  immaturity  and 
tendencies  to  overreact  emotionally  often  with  hysterical 
episodes.    The  marked  need  for  approval  lead  to  prevarication 
and self-aggrandizement.   
 
3.  The  applicant’s  behavior  was  inappropriate  and 
     
reflective of his basic personality disorder and he should have 
been  held  fully  accountable  for  his  behavior  with  appropriate 
disciplinary  action.    He  was  able  to  conform  to  his  duty  and 
military restrictions if he was so motivated.   
 
On  25  October  1983,  the  applicant  acknowledged  receipt  of  the 
notification of discharge and his right to consult counsel, and 
submit  statements  on  his  own  behalf.    He  opted  to  consult 
counsel and waived his right to submit statements on his behalf.   
 
On  14  November  1983,  the  request  for  discharge  was  approved, 
subsequent  to  medical  determination  that  the  applicant  was  fit 
for worldwide duty and the file being found legally sufficient.  
The  discharge  authority  directed  the  applicant  be  discharged 
with an honorable characterization of service without probation 
and rehabilitation.   
 
The  applicant  was  discharged  on  15  November  1983,  with  a 
narrative  reason  for  separation  of  “Personality  Disorder  –  Not 
Disability”  and  a  separation  code  of  “JFX.”    He  was  credited 
with 1 year, 2 months and 19 days of active duty service.   
 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 
 
AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
AFPC/DPSOR  recommends  denial.    DPSOR  states  that  based  on  the 
documentation on file in the master military personnel records, 
the  discharge,  to  include  the  narrative  reason  for  separation 
and  separation  code,  was  consistent  with  the  procedural  and 
substantive  requirements  of  the  discharge  instruction  and  was 
within the discretion of the discharge authority.  They found no 
evidence  of  an  error  or  injustice  in  the  processing  of  the 
applicant’s case.   
 
The complete AFPC/DPSOS 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 26 July 2012 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D).  To date, this office has not received a response.   
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
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.  Insufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  error  or  injustice.    After 
thoroughly  reviewing  the  evidence  of  record  and  noting  the 
applicant’s contentions, we are not persuaded the Air Force used 
his  personality  disorder  to  avoid  medically  retiring  him.    In 
this respect, we note while the applicant’s personality disorder 
significantly  interfered  with  his  ability  to  function  in  the 
military environment, it did not render him unfit for continued 
military  service.    The  evidence  of  record  indicates  that  on 
2 November  1983,  he  was  found  worldwide  qualified.      Hence,  we 
agree  with  the  opinion  and  recommendation  of  the  Air  Force 
office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the 
basis  for  our  conclusion  the  applicant  has  not  been  the  victim 
of  an  error  or  an  injustice.    Therefore,  in  the  absence  of 
evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting 
the relief sought in this application. 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

 

 
The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  material  error  or  injustice;  that 
the  application  was  denied  without  a  personal  appearance;  and 
that  the  application  will  only  be  reconsidered  upon  the 
submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered 
with this application. 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
The  following  members  of  the  Board  considered  this  application 
BC-2012-01689  in  Executive  Session  on  14  November  2012,  under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 
 
 
 
 
The following documentary evidence was considered: 
 
    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 28 March 2012. 
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSOR, dated 2 July 2012. 
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 July 2012. 
 
 
 
 
                                    
                                   Panel Chair 

, Panel Chair 
, Member 
, Member