Search Decisions

Decision Text

ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070017966
Original file (20070017966.txt) Auto-classification: Denied


RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:	  


	BOARD DATE:	  27 March 2008
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20070017966 


	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.


Ms. Catherine C. Mitrano

Director

Mr. Dean L. Turnbull

Analyst

The following members, a quorum, were present:


Mr. John T. Meixell

Chairperson

Ms. LaVerne M. Douglas

Member

Ms. Jeanette R. McCants

Member

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records.

	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests that his general discharge be upgraded to an honorable discharge.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, he was suffering from chronic depression caused by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at the time of his discharge.  This information has been verified through his long history of depression from serving in the Republic of Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.  He is still suffering from PTSD today and is being treated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).  He has completed a Drug and Alcohol program after he was discharged from the Army National Guard and he now has two children and is working as a Veterans Service Officer for his county.  His goal has always been to raise the level of his general discharge to an honorable discharge.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) for the period ending 27 January 1970, NGB Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) for the period ending 15 June 1992, and a letter from the Recovery Associates dated  
16 October 2001.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s 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.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.

2.  The applicant's military personnel record shows he enlisted in the Regular Army on 1 February 1967 for 3 years.  He completed the necessary training and was awarded the military occupational specialty (MOS) 72C (Central Office Switchboard Operator).  


3.  Item 31 (Foreign Service) of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he served as a Lineman during the period 27 September 1967 to  
26 September 1968 in the Republic of Vietnam.

4.  The applicant was honorably discharged from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control (USAR) Group (Reinforcement), St. Louis, Missouri on 27 January 1970.  He completed 2 years, 11 months, and 27 days of Net Service This Period.  His highest pay grade held was E-5.

5.  He enlisted in the Indiana Army National Guard (INARNG) on 6 August 1977.  He served continuously with the INARNG until he was separated on 15 June 1992.

6.  The applicant's discharge packet was not included in his record; however, the NGB Form 22 he was issued shows he was discharged under honorable conditions (General Discharge) for alcohol or other drug abuse rehabilitation failure under the provisions of National Guard Regulation 600-200, paragraph  
8-26r on 15 June 1992.  He had completed a total of 14 years, 10 months, and 10 days of Net Service This Period.

7.  The applicant's military personnel record does not contain any evidence of him ever being diagnosed and treated while on active duty for chronic depression.

8.  The letter from the Recovery Associates states that the applicant was admitted into their treatment program for chemical dependency in January 1993. He had completed all of the treatment requirements in March 1993 and to the best of their knowledge there had been no reoccurrence of his cannabis dependence.

9.  National Guard Regulation 600-200 (Enlisted Personnel Management) governs procedures for enlisted personnel of the Army National Guard.  Paragraph 8-26 covers reasons, applicability, codes, and board requirements for administrative discharges from the Reserve of the Army and/or the State Army National Guard.  Paragraph 8-26r pertains to alcohol or other drug abuse rehabilitation failure.

10.  Army Regulation 600-85 (Army Substance Abuse Program), in pertinent part, governs the separation of soldiers for alcohol and other drug abuse.  Section 5-5c specifically states that Soldiers that are rehabilitation failures will be 


processed for administrative separation when the unit commander determines 
that further rehabilitation efforts are not practical and that rehabilitation is a failure.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant contends that his general discharge should be upgraded to an honorable discharge.

2.  The applicant states at the time he was discharged from the Army he was suffering from chronic depression caused by PTSD.  Additionally, his PTSD has been verified through his long history of depression from his service in the Republic of Vietnam and he is still suffering from PTSD and is being treated for that condition by the DVA.

3.  However, there is no evidence nor has the applicant submitted any evidence of him ever being diagnosed or treated while on active duty for chronic depression caused by PTSD.  He received an honorable discharge from active duty on 27 January 1970.  

4.  The applicant was then discharged from the INARNG under the provisions of National Guard Regulation 600-200 for alcohol or other drug abuse rehabilitation failure on 15 June 1992.

5.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must satisfactorily show, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient evidence that would satisfy this requirement; therefore, he is not entitled to an honorable discharge from the Army National Guard.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__LMD__  __JRM___  __JTM__  DENY APPLICATION




BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.




___John T. Meixell    __
      CHAIRPERSON




INDEX

CASE ID
AR
SUFFIX

RECON
YYYYMMDD
DATE BOARDED
YYYYMMDD
TYPE OF DISCHARGE
(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)
DATE OF DISCHARGE
YYYYMMDD
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY
AR . . . . .  
DISCHARGE REASON

BOARD DECISION
(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)
REVIEW AUTHORITY

ISSUES         1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.


Similar Decisions

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001057739C070420

    Original file (2001057739C070420.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein. APPLICANT STATES : That his seizure disorder, bipolar disorder, arthritis, hepatitis C, dysthymia, and major depression were all due to his service in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. The DVA physician placed the onset of symptoms for this condition to be the time the applicant was serving on active duty during Operation Desert Storm, based on the symptoms he exhibited...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY1996 | 9610148C070209

    Original file (9610148C070209.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show: The applicant served on active duty from 17 March 1966 to 2 June 1975. Whether the applicant passed his APFT or a physical is immaterial to DDD. Finally, he opined that the applicant failed to submit medical evidence that he was medically disqualified due to an incident while on duty with the National Guard, or that the National Guard aggravated a pre-existent condition.

  • CG | BCMR | Disability Cases | 2007-176

    Original file (2007-176.pdf) Auto-classification: Denied

    The Page 7 notes that because it was his second alcohol abuse incident, he was being processed for separation pursuant to Article 20-B-2.d. On April 3, 1989, the CO submitted a recommendation, which was required by Article 20-B-2 of the Personnel Manual, that the applicant be discharged because of his two alcohol abuse incidents. The CO requested that the applicant be retained on active duty despite Coast Guard policy as follows: 3.

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150001589

    Original file (20150001589.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    Records show he served in Iraq during the following periods: * 6 February to 3 July 2003 * 21 October 2005 to 20 October 2006 * 8 June 2008 to 4 September 2009 3. It was concluded that the applicant’s mild sleep apnea that corrects to a normal AHI and Epworth Score with CPAP meets Army retention standards IAW AR 40-501, chapter 3-41c. He reported headaches at a pain level of 6/10, which improved to 3/10 with Maxalt medication.

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090013185

    Original file (20090013185.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    Accordingly, the applicant was honorably discharged on 5 August 2008 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations - Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations), chapter 9, by reason of alcohol rehabilitation failure. Discharge under this chapter is based upon alcohol or other drug abuse such as illegal, wrongful, or improper use of any controlled substance, alcohol, or other drug when the Soldier is enrolled in the ASAP and the commander determines that...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110001074

    Original file (20110001074.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    The applicant provides: * a DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 20 March 2005 * a National Guard Bureau Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service) for the period ending 24 November 2010 * a letter from an embedded therapist for the 649th Engineer Company * a Standard Form 513 (Consultation Sheet), dated 25 June 2009 * a letter from his psychologist, dated 19 August 2009 * a letter from a clinical psychologist, dated 21 August...

  • AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012-00021

    Original file (PD2012-00021.docx) Auto-classification: Denied

    Furthermore, IAW DoDI 6040.44 and DoD guidance (which applies VASRD §4.129 to all Board cases), the Board is obligated to consider if the definition of §4.129 is met for any psychiatric condition resulting in medical separation; i.e., “a mental disorder that develops in service as a result of a highly stressful event.” The evidence is clear in this case that all of the elements for application of §4.129 were met. At the VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam, performed 2 weeks prior to...

  • AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01726

    Original file (PD2012 01726.rtf) Auto-classification: Approved

    CI described the same PTSD symptoms as described in the C&P exam 3 months prior to separation. As regards the permanent rating recommendation, the Board must weigh the evidence in the year post separation VA assessments, the MEB and the VA pre-separation C&P exam in order to extrapolate an estimation of the ratable impairment at 6 months after separation. The CI was reported by his commander to have done exemplary work in a ground job after being removed from flight status and prior to...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070005117

    Original file (20070005117.txt) Auto-classification: Denied

    On 5 June 2006, the applicant's commander advised the applicant he was taking action to separate him from the service under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 9, paragraph 9-2, for alcohol or other drug abuse rehabilitation failure. On 13 July 2006, the applicant's commander recommended that he be separated for alcohol or other drug abuse rehabilitation failure. The evidence shows that the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 9,...

  • AF | BCMR | CY1998 | 9102977

    Original file (9102977.pdf) Auto-classification: Denied

    Prior to his separation, the member had a diagnosis of alcohol abuse, continuous, and failed the rehabilitation program. A copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit D. i APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant and his counsel on 21 November 1991 for review and response. A copy of the Air Staff evaluation is attached at Exhibit H. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Copies of the Air Force...