Distressed Ex-navy Sailor...

[CeLuNa]

What is the name of your state? california

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? California

I recently just got discharged from the US Navy... I was discharged due to medical reasons, no disaplinary or mjp's or any of the sort... I got out on a "general under honorable conditions" and was involunteerily seperated due to my medical condition. I was in for a total of 13 months... and completely paid off my montgumery GI bill, which I paid 100.00 per month for one year. My GI Bill was supposed to be given to me for 35K when I got out... now on the contract it states that it can be voided due to earlier termination if your terminated due to mjp's, and bad conduct, and disciplinary issues... nowhere does it say anything about being seperated for medical conditions and I was also pushed out of the navy while I wanted to stay in... so therefore I feel that I held up my end of the deal and the Navy stole my GI Bill...

Also... when I enlisted I signed on for an extra year which intitled me to a 3k bonus, which I recieved. Now when they kicked me out they didn't give me my last paycheck because they claimed that I was overpaid due to recieving the enlistment bonus. Again I didn't get discharged because I wanted to or because of bad conduct, I was involunteerily seperated due to a medical condition that I had.

Please help me on this...

[rmet4nzkx]

Originally Posted by CeLuNa

What is the name of your state? california

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? California

I recently just got discharged from the US Navy... I was discharged due to medical reasons, no disaplinary or mjp's or any of the sort... I got out on a "general under honorable conditions" and was involunteerily seperated due to my medical condition. I was in for a total of 13 months... and completely paid off my montgumery GI bill, which I paid 100.00 per month for one year. My GI Bill was supposed to be given to me for 35K when I got out... now on the contract it states that it can be voided due to earlier termination if your terminated due to mjp's, and bad conduct, and disciplinary issues... nowhere does it say anything about being seperated for medical conditions and I was also pushed out of the navy while I wanted to stay in... so therefore I feel that I held up my end of the deal and the Navy stole my GI Bill...

Also... when I enlisted I signed on for an extra year which intitled me to a 3k bonus, which I recieved. Now when they kicked me out they didn't give me my last paycheck because they claimed that I was overpaid due to recieving the enlistment bonus. Again I didn't get discharged because I wanted to or because of bad conduct, I was involunteerily seperated due to a medical condition that I had.

Please help me on this...

What is the nature of your medical condition?
Was it preexisting when you enlisted?

[fozzy2]

I am going to take a guess and say that your medical condition is "personality disorder." This puts you in a tough position. The military does not consider a "personality disorder" to be a "mental illness" -- your discharge is for "suitability" reasons. There are a lot of criticisms of the way the military handles these issues, but that is all academic to someone currently in the system.

At any rate, there should have been a reason they gave you a "general" rather than an "honorable" discharge. Indeed, though I haven't researched it there is probably a requirement that you were told the specific reasons for your getting a general discharge. Were you "counseled" about your general discharge? Did you sign some form explaining it? If not, there might have been an error in the discharge process. While there is no specific automatic test, to get a "general" it must usually be shown that the negatives in your record outweighed the positives.

You can appeal to the Naval Discharge Review Board. If you failed to receive counseling or your command had no justification for giving you a general, then you probably have a good chance at an upgrade. On the other hand, if the Navy gave you its reasons and you simply don't like them, then there probably won't be any upgrade. It's worth a shot.

[rmet4nzkx]

this is why OP needs to answer the 2 simple questions. If this was a preexisting condition and Borderline PD would be, then they are not entitled to the preenlistment bonus or the GI bill, if they failed to disclose this. BTW, the Navy and Marines look at BorderlinePD differently and how they are counseled and processed.

[CeLuNa]

I was never counseled on the reason(s) why I got a general discharge nor did I sign any paperwork disclosing the reason(s) why. I also have been diagnosed with Borderline PD and I never had any clue that I had it until the military diagnosed me with it... If I knew that I had it I would have disclosed that information when I got processed in, so how can I know if it was preexisting or not? I just want my 1200.00 that I put into the GI Bill or the GI Bill itself because I still feel that I was wronged by the NAVY and they kicked me out for something that I supposively had my entire life when I knew nothing about it...

[frustrated vet]

The determination of borderline personality disorder is one of the worst things the Navy could have labeled you. When you are discharged early, have not completed your required length of service you are considered overpaid if you received a reenlistment bonus.

Unfortunately I do not know about the Montgomer GI bill. I think it is best if you call the DOD and ask about the policy on that issue. They may not be returning your money because it was used to pay off your reenlistment bonus as well.

Another issue you have not mentioned is the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since BPD is considered a life long illness there is no claim. You will be denied any disability if you attempt to file a claim. If there are any other serious medical problems while you were in the service you file a claim for service connection with those items.