APPLICANT REQUESTS: That he be awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in World War II.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that his ear drums were perforated by German artillery fire. When awards were presented to his unit he was still in the hospital and did not receive his Purple Heart.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Information herein was obtained from reconstructed records.
He was inducted on 19 March 1943 and after training as an artilleryman he served in France. He was honorably discharged on 26 March 1946.
His medical records show that he was treated for ear and hearing related problems periodically during his service. On 29 August 1944 he was admitted to the Army hospital at Camp Irwin, California for acute otitis media to the left ear. The cause was undetermined. Subsequent treatment records show that he suffered from chronic otitis media from childhood.
In a VA medical examination for disability evaluation in January 1964, the applicant contended that his ears were injured by German artillery landing close by. However, the available records contain no evidence of the source of his hearing loss, other than the history provided by the applicant.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. While the evidence of record shows that the applicant was treated for an injury to his ear drums, it does not show that the injury was the result of hostile action.
2. Based upon the available records, there is no evidence that he suffered a combat related injury that would qualify for award of the Purple Heart.
3. In view of the foregoing, there appears to be no basis for granting the applicants request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
BOARD VOTE:
GRANT
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
DENY APPLICATION
Karl F. Schneider
Acting Director
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001063165C070421
The battalion surgeon (a captain) directed that the applicant be evacuated to the 249 th General Hospital with a concussion puncture of the left ear with mild Otitis Media. While the majority of the available records show that the cause of the applicant’s injury was undetermined and that his condition existed prior to his service, the letter from the battalion surgeon clearly states that he had a concussion injury and that his ear-drum was punctured. While the available records do not...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080015887
Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by medical personnel, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record. Therefore, in the absence of sufficient evidence to establish that he was wounded/injured as a result of enemy action and that treatment was made a matter of record, it must be presumed that what the Army did at the time was correct. The Board wants the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY1996 | 9606296C070209
His medical records show that he was treated for ear problems on 1 and 14 October 1943, specifically, otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear), chronic, suppurative left-due to a blow by a wave while swimming in Sicily in September 1943. In an advisory opinion (COPY ATTACHED) to this Board, the US Army Reserve Personnel Center recommended that the applicants request for the Purple Heart be denied. While the evidence of record shows that the applicant was treated for an injury to his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150004142
In his request for reconsideration, he stated: * he sustained a concussion in Vietnam and was sent to Japan to recover from this concussion * he was not sent back to Vietnam because of the medical issues with hearing loss, headaches, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which are all service-connected * he was given a permanent physical profile and upon returning stateside, he was assigned to supply, then finance, then special services * he was also treated at Fort Meade, MD for ears,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060016019
The applicant provides no additional evidence in support of his application. The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. Evidence shows that the applicants records contain an administrative error which does not require action by the Board.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080006522
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant requests correction of his Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States (DD Form 214) to show award of the Purple Heart for wounds received in the Republic of Korea. The applicant states that the letter from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), dated 13 February 2006, proves that his records should be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140004571
The doctor prescribed additional pain medication and antibiotics for a possible ear infection. When recommending and considering award of the Purple Heart for concussion injuries, both diagnostic and treatment factors must be present and documented in the Soldier's medical record by a medical officer. The medical records he submitted show he was diagnosed with otitis media and treated for hearing loss and tinnitus.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070011128
This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicants failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. The applicants military records are not available to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) for review. The applicant provided copies of two medical forms that show he was admitted to the hospital on 24 September 1945...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080009482
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicants military records show that he enlisted and entered active duty on 4 January 1944. Without evidence to show that the perforation of his eardrum was the result of hostile action, there is insufficient evidence in which to grant the applicants request.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090008686
BOARD DATE: 29 October 2009 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090008686 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. While the applicant has provided evidence to show that he was diagnosed with and treated for otitis media while in Vietnam, there is no evidence to show that condition was the result of hostile action. Without evidence to show that the applicant was injured as the result of hostile action, there is insufficient evidence in which to grant him the Purple Heart.