IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 6 May 2014
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140005721
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 a review of the military disability evaluation pertaining to a mental health condition.
2. The applicant states, in effect, the case file should be reviewed in accordance with the Secretary of Defense directive for a comprehensive review of members who were referred for a disability evaluation between 11 September 2001 and
30 April 2012 and whose mental health diagnosis was changed during that process.
3. The applicant submitted an application through the Department of Defense (DOD) Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) Mental Health Special Review Panel (SRP).
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicants submissions and records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of a mental health condition during processing through the military disability system.
2. The DOD memorandum, dated 27 February 2013, directed the Service Secretaries to conduct a review of mental health diagnoses for service members completing a disability evaluation process between 11 September 2001 and
30 April 2012 in order to determine if service members were disadvantaged by a changed diagnosis over the course of their physical disability process.
3. In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the PDBR SRP and the applicant was provided a copy.
4. The applicant did not respond to the advisory opinion.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. After a comprehensive review of the applicants case, the SRP determined by unanimous vote that there should be no change of the applicants physical evaluation board adjudication of the disability retirement determination.
2. The SRP reviewed the applicant's records for evidence of inappropriate changes in diagnosis of the MH condition during processing through the military Disability Evaluation System (DES). The evidence of the available records shows that adjustment disorder with depressed mood was the only diagnosis rendered. The SRP noted the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on his DD Form 2808; however, determined the preponderance of evidence did not support a PTSD diagnosis. Therefore, at the time of processing through the DES, no MH diagnosis was changed to the applicant's possible disadvantage. Therefore, the applicant did not appear to meet the inclusion criteria in the Terms of Reference of the MH Review Project.
3. The SRP also considered whether any mental condition, regardless of specific diagnosis was unfitting for continued military service. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood was not a physical disability and was not ratable in accordance with DOD Instruction (DODI) 1332.38.
4. The SRP agreed that the evidence of the record reflected minimal MH related symptoms. There was no evidence the applicant was prescribed psychotropic medications for a MH condition, no visits to the emergency room, and no psychiatric hospitalization prior to separation. The commander's statement did not implicate a MH issue and no MH condition was ever profiled.
5. After due deliberation in consideration of the preponderance of evidence, the SRP concluded that there was insufficient evidence that any MH condition rose to the level of being unfitting at the time of separation and none were subject to disability rating.
6. The available evidence shows the SRPs assessment should be accepted.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
____X____ ___X_____ ___X_____ 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.
____________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) AR20040003532
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140005721
2
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140010504
The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicants submissions and records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of a mental health condition during processing through the military disability system. The Department of Defense memorandum, dated 27 February 2013, directed the Service Secretaries to conduct a review of mental health diagnoses for service members completing a disability evaluation process between 11 September 2001 and 30 April 2012 in order to...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140014415
The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of the applicant's MH condition during processing through the military Disability Evaluation System (DES). The SRP noted that the available records show no changes to an MH diagnosis to the applicant's possible disadvantage during the DES process. The SRP agreed with the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) determination that symptoms of depression and anxiety were present.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140004337
The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicants submissions and records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of a mental health condition during processing through the military disability system. The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of inappropriate changes in diagnosis of the MH condition during processing through the military Disability Evaluation System (DES). The evidence of the available records shows diagnoses of depression and Post-Traumatic...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140009433
The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicants submissions and records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of a mental health condition during processing through the military disability system. The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of changes in diagnosis of the applicant's MH condition during processing through the military Disability Evaluation System (DES), pilot program. The evidence of the available records show the diagnosis of the applicant's...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140005004
IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 23 April 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140005004 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicants submissions and records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of an MH condition during processing through the military disability system. The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of inappropriate changes in diagnosis of the MH condition during processing through the military Disability...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140000289
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicants submissions and records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of a MH condition during processing through the military disability system. After a comprehensive review of the applicant's case, the SRP determined by unanimous vote that there should be no change to the applicant's disability and retirement determination.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140003242
The applicant requests a review of the military disability evaluation pertaining to a mental health (MH) condition. The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicants submissions and records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of an MH condition during processing through the military disability system. After due deliberation in consideration of the preponderance of the evidence, the SRP concluded that there was insufficient cause to recommend a change in...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140006671
The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicants submissions and records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of a MH condition during processing through the military disability system. After a comprehensive review of the applicant's case, the SRP determined by unanimous vote that there should be no change to the applicant's disability and retirement determination. After due deliberation in consideration of the preponderance of the evidence, the SRP...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140011771
The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicant's submissions and records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of an MH condition during processing through the military disability system. The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of inappropriate changes in diagnosis of the MH condition during processing through the military Disability Evaluation System (DES). The evidence of the available records shows the diagnosis of adjustment disorder, not otherwise...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140014429
The PDBR SRP conducted a comprehensive review of the applicant's submissions and the FSM's records for evidence of inappropriate changes in the diagnosis of an MH condition during processing through the military disability system. The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of changes in diagnosis of the FSM's MH condition during processing through the military Disability Evaluation System (DES). The SRP concluded there was insufficient evidence to support an unfit determination for any MH...