IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 6 August 2014
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140011589
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 (MH) 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 MH diagnosis was changed during that process.
3. The applicant submitted an application through the Department of Defense (DOD) Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) MH 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 an MH 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 MH 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 a unanimous vote that there should be no change of the applicants disability determination.
2. 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 available evidence shows the diagnosis of an adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood as the only diagnosis rendered during DES processing. The SRP agreed there were no changes in the diagnoses; therefore, the applicant did not meet the inclusion criteria in the Terms of Reference of the MH Review Project.
3. The SRP considered whether the MH conditions were unfitting for continued military service, regardless of specific diagnosis and without regard to the presumption of fitness rule. The adjustment disorder was not a physical disability and is not ratable in accordance with DOD Instruction 1332.38. The SRP agreed that the record of evidence reflected minimal MH related symptoms. The applicant was never hospitalized psychiatrically, never reported suicidal or to have homicidal thoughts, was never seen in the emergency room for MH concerns, and there was no reported issues of domestic abuse or marital conflict. At the time of the narrative summary (NARSUM), the applicant had participated in six counseling sessions which he stated were helpful, and in 2011, received three prescriptions for Zoloft. Although the commanders performance evaluation acknowledged the anxiety condition, an MH condition was never profiled.
4. After due deliberation in consideration of the preponderance of the evidence, the SRP concluded there was insufficient evidence to recommend an unfitting MH condition at the time of separation and none was subject to a disability rating.
5. 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) AR20140011589
2
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150000346
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 a 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 Integrated Disability...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140007666
The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of inappropriate changes in diagnosis of the MH condition during processing through the Disability Evaluation System (DES). The core issue in this case was the identification of the correct MH diagnosis that determined if the MH condition was considered a disability; followed by a fitness determination. The SRP discovered that the preponderance of evidence most accurately depicted the applicant's MH diagnosis as anxiety disorder not otherwise...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150010647
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. The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of inappropriate changes in diagnosis of the MH condition during processing through the Disability Evaluation System (DES). ___________X___________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140008922
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 or elimination of a diagnosis of an MH condition during processing through the Disability Evaluation System (DES). The PEB adjudicated both MH conditions as "conditions not constituting a...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150010489
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. The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of inappropriate changes in diagnosis of an MH condition during processing through the Disability Evaluation System...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140010514
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 a mental health condition during processing through the military disability system. The SRP reviewed the records for evidence of inappropriate changes in A diagnosis of an MH condition during processing through the Disability...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150001268
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 a MH condition during processing through the military disability system. The SRP review the records for evidence of inappropriate changes in diagnosis of the applicant's MH condition during processing through the Disability...
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 | CY2015 | 20150003891
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 DOD memorandum, dated 27 February 2013, directed the Service Secretaries to conduct a review of MH diagnoses for service members completing a disability evaluation process between 11 September 2001 and 30 April 2012, to determine if service members were disadvantaged by...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140004230
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 applicants case, the SRP determined by unanimous vote that there should be no change to the physical evaluation board (PEB)s determination that an adjustment disorder was the correct diagnosis and that it was not compensable; and...