DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS

2  NAVY ANNE

X

WASHINGTON DC 20370-510

0

CRS
Docket No: 5049-02
24 January 2003

Section 1552

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,
In addition

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,

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sitting in executive session, considered you

r
Your allegations of error an

Documentary material considered by the Board consisted o
together with all material submitted in suppor
the Board considered the advisor

This is in reference to your application for correction of you
naval record pursuant to the provisions of Title 10, Unite
States Code,
A three-member panel of the Board for Correction of Nava
Records ,
application on 22 January 2003.
injustice were reviewed in accordance with administrativ
regulations and procedures applicable to the proceedings of thi
Board.
your application
thereof, your naval record and applicable statutes, regulation
and policies
opinion furnished by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, a cop
of which is attached
After careful and conscientious consideration of the entir
record, the Board found that the evidence submitted was
insufficient to establish the existence of probable materia
error or injustice
concurred with the comments contained in the advisory opinion.
Additionally
guidance and is often assigned to an individual separated due to
a diagnosed personality disorder
. Accordingly, your application has been denied
suicidal
.
names and votes of the members of the panel will be furnishe
upon request.
It is regretted that the circumstances of your case are such tha
favorable action cannot be taken
Board reconsider its decision upon submission of new and materia
evidence or other matter not previously considered by the Board.
In this regard
presumption of regularity attaches to all official records

, an RE-4 reenlistment is authorized by regulator

,

it is important to keep in mind that 

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In this connection, the Board substantiall

. You are entitled to have the

, especially if the person i

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Consequently,
record , the  burden  is on the   applicant to demonstrate the
existence of probable material error or injustice

when applying for a correction of an official nava

.

Sincerely ,

W. DEAN PFEIFFER
Executive Directo

r

Enclosur e

2

Mental Health Services
Naval Medical Center

San Diego, CA 92134-5000

11 November 2002

Chairman, Board of Corrections of Naval Records
Department of the Navy, Washington, DC 203 70-5 100

From:

To:

Subj 
:

Ref:

(a) Docket No: 5049-02

Encl:

(1) BCNR File
(2) Service Record

IONS

I

1. Reference (a) requested a psychiatric specialty review of the petitioner
correction of his record to have diagnosis of Personality Disorder with Borderline,
Dependent, and  

Avoidant traits be removed 

from his record.

’s request for

2.

I will review some of the history:

- 24 NOV 98 Enlisted in the USN for four years
-16 

Confessed to his command chaplain that he almost overdosed on

.KJN 99

Tylenol pm. He was referred to mental health for further evaluation and treatment.

- 16 

RJN 99

At the time of his evaluation, he reported thoughts of suicide for

Pat and the

1.5 months as well as depressed mood, reduced concentration, guilt about his son,
anhedonia, and decreased energy, and problems sleeping for 2-3. months. He related his
symptoms were exacerbated by his impending deployment on West 
discovery that his ex-girlfriend had left his son with his mother. He also related a history
of two prior suicide attempts at ages 14 and 16 years by overdose (first by overdose on
Aspirin and the second by overdose on muscle relaxants.) He stated that each required
psychiatric hospitalization, but no psychiatric medication management or psychotherapy.
He did admit, however, to having to attend anger management counseling as a teen after
he pointed a BB gun at a girl. He also admitted to a history of polysubstance abuse and
alcohol abuse. Prior to enlistment he was using marijuana up to every other day, and
sporadic use of methamphetamine, cocaine, and LSD. He admitted to 
cases of beer a month, but able to consume a case in one day even since enlistment. He
admitted to  “drinking to get drunk. ”He also admitted a history off blacking out once
while intoxicated, driving under the influence without getting caught, and alcohol
interfering with a past job. When asked what he would do if not separated from the
Navy, he stated,  “I would try to kill myself again.
endorsed suicidal ideation with a plan to overdose on Tylenol.

” On mental status examination, he

diinking up to two

*

*

l

,- 

.

;

m s by other

H e

- 17 

JUN 99

During his ad

m ission at ti m e of intervie

w by psychiatry resident

m ent with others as well as
m aking.  H e endorsed going to excessive
m  to stay in an abusive relationship

m ood
w ith being criticized in social

.lUN 99 ,  he endorsed a history of 

m other for decision-
fro m others. This led hi

and attending staff psychiatrist on the 17 
instability,  chronic e m ptiness, and preoccupation 
situations. H e dropped out of high school at age 16 years because of criticis
students. Prior to that he had a history of suspensions for fighting in high school. 
also endorsed a history of difficulty expressing disagree
needing to rely on his 
lengths to obtain support 
w ith his ex-girlfriend for longer. 
noted in the narrative su
coping  m echanis m  evident by use of suicide atte
D iagnosis was Adjust
polysubstance abuse by history. (
Personality Disorder, 
Features. Ad
D isorder as his longstanding disorder of character and behavior was felt to be of such
severity to render hi
could be at ongoing risk of self har
har m  contract at the ti
ad m inistrative separation 

NOS w ith  Borderline, Dependent, and 

m  incapable of serving adequately in the 

m e of discharge fro
was being reco

m ent Disorder with depressed 

m inistrative separation 

m  if retained in the 

Avoidant Personality

H e was able to 
Navy .

m ake a 
m  the hospital, given the knowledge 
mm ended .

that

no-

m pts as a  m eans of coping.
m ood, alcohol abuse, and

D ischarge

H e also endorsed inhibition in social situations. It 

mm ary fro m  his hospitalization that he has a poorly adapting

H e declined a SARD consult which was offered); and

was reco mm ended on the basis of Personality

- 

22KJN99

The member was noti

reason of convenience of the govern
was advised of his procedural rights. A fter consultation 
have the case reviewed by the general court-

fied that discharge was being considered by

m ent due to diagnosis of personality disorder.

H e

w ith legal counsel, he elected to

m artial convening authority (GC

-14 

JuL99

GCMCA d

irected an honorable discharge and assign

m ent of an

RF -4 reenlist m ent code

-22J UL99

The member received an Honorable Discharge.

Navy and it was felt that he

MCA ).

3. Summary o

known history after discharge fro

f 

m  the  USN :

-020CT0 1

, In a letter the 

m ember maintains that the Chaplain 

hi m  and that he felt like dying but was not considering suicide. 
A rm y Reserves.
-02FEB02

The member requested psychological testing be done. 

m isunderstood

H e w ishes to join the

MM PI-2

and  MCM I-II  were ad m inistered by
that the  m ember denied ever being suicidal and denied any
this was the  m ember ’s  m eans to get ho
intervie w  the  m ember
years, but denied any
atte m pts in this letter.
psychological difficulties. 
any significant psychopathology. H e appears to be so
serious degree.

tric history. There is no 
tates there was no evidence of 

H e states that the test profiles are 

substanc

”

stated he had anger  m anage m ent counseling for 16 weeks at age 13
m ention of his other suicide

m e to attend his son. During

m ewhat dependent, but not to any

m ini m ization of any

“indicative of an absence of

4 .  D iscussion: The actual test results fro
were not available for review. Review of the actual test results would be helpful. The
the past) a
letter fro-lone does not provide proof that there is (or 

m  the above- m entioned psychological testing

was 

in 

5

 

.

.

;

diagnosis of a Personality Disorder. The diagnosis of a Personality Disorder is not made
by test scores alone and the ultimate diagnosis resides with the Diagnostic Interview.
There are discrepancies between the history the member gave while in service and the
.Even if he lied and thus was being
history he gave-n February 2002
manipulative, at the time of his evaluation in service or after discharge, this in and of
itself suggests some maladaptive characterlogical traits. Based on the documentation of
his psychiatric evaluation and hospitalization while on active duty, where the patient was
interviewed and interacted with staff on numerous occasions and observed overnight, it
appears the member did indeed meet criteria for Personality Disorder NOS with
Avoidant Features. This was clearly documented in his
Borderline, Dependent, and 
27JUN99.  In relation to his Personality
Narrative Summary of hospitalization dated 
Disorder, he presented a history of maladaptive coping marked by a history of suicide
attempts when stressed (three during his life up to that point) and he clearly stated if he
weren ’t separated from the Navy, 

“I would try to kill myself again.

”

5. Recommendation: The evidence of record does support the in-service diagnosis of a
personality disorder. There is no reason to change the diagnosis.