Lechliter v. United States

70 Fed. Cl. 536, 2006 U.S. Claims LEXIS 212, 2006 WL 1189442
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedApril 25, 2006
DocketNo. 04-1729C
StatusPublished
Cited by37 cases

This text of 70 Fed. Cl. 536 (Lechliter v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Lechliter v. United States, 70 Fed. Cl. 536, 2006 U.S. Claims LEXIS 212, 2006 WL 1189442 (uscfc 2006).

Opinion

OPINION

FIRESTONE, Judge.

Currently pending before the court is the United States’ (“government’s”) July 5, 2005 Motion to Dismiss, in part, for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction; to Dismiss, in part, for Failure to State a Claim Upon Which Relief Can Be Granted; and for Judgment Upon the Administrative Record with Regard to the Remainder of the Complaint. This action was filed by pro se plaintiff Gerald A. Lechliter (“plaintiff’ or “Mr. Lechli-ter”). Mr. Lechliter, who retired based on longevity from the United States Army (“Army”) on June 1, 1999, challenges the Army’s determination that he was fit for duty and argues that he should have been given a disability retirement. Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) of the Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims (“RCFC”), the government argues that this court lacks jurisdiction over Mr. Lechliter’s claim based on the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment because that clause is not a money-mandating provision. Pursuant to RCFC 12(b)(6), the government argues that Mr. Lechliter’s requests for declaratory relief and his complaint that the Army does not have objective standards for determining fitness-for-duty fail to state claims upon which this court can grant relief. Finally, in its motion for judgment on the administrative record pursuant to RCFC 56.1, the government argues that the decisions of the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records (“ABCMR”) denying Mr. Lechliter’s application for disability retirement are supported by substantial evidence and were not arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law.

For the reasons that follow, the court DENIES the government’s motion to dismiss, in [538]*538part, for lack of subject matter jurisdiction; the court GRANTS the government’s motion to dismiss, in part, for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; the court GRANTS the government’s motion for judgment upon the administrative record; the court DENIES the plaintiffs cross-motion for judgment upon the administrative record; and the court DENIES the plaintiffs motion for discovery, supplementation of the administrative record, and a hearing.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The facts are set forth in great detail in both of the ABCMR decisions, dated September 20, 2001, A.R. vol. I, 161-171, and August 20, 2003, A.R. vol. I, 1-39. The court does not repeat them here, but rather summarizes the following facts, as set forth in the administrative record and the parties’ statements and counter-statements of facts,1 that are relevant to the administrative procedure by which Mr. Lechliter was deemed to be “fit for duty” prior to his retirement from the Army.

Mr. Lechliter retired from active duty with the Army with more than 26 years of honorable service. He is receiving a longevity retirement. In the last assignment he held prior to his retirement, Mr. Lechliter served as chief of Defense Liaison Detachment 4, a Defense Intelligence Agency unit in Bonn, Germany. Mr. Lechliter’s operational chain of command was located in the Washington, D.C. area.

A. Proceedings Before the Medical Evaluation Board and Physical Evaluation Board

In 1998, Mr. Lechliter, then 55 years old, sought treatment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, for numerous ailments. The examining doctors assigned Mr. Lechliter certain profiles that restricted his physical activities. As a result of those profiles, Mr. Lechliter was referred to a Military Occupational Specialty/Medical Retention Board (“MMRB”). A.R. vol. I, 199. The MMRB then referred Mr. Lechli-ter to a Medical Evaluation Board (“MEB”) for a disability evaluation. A.R. vol. I, 201-202. In November 1998, the MEB concluded that Mr. Lechliter did not meet the Army’s retention standards. A.R. vol. I, 227. In accordance with Army Reg. 635-40, the MEB referred Mr. Lechliter’s record to a Physical Evaluation Board (“PEB”) for an evaluation of his fitness for duty.2 A.R. vol. 1, 209-210, 244. The form documenting the MEB proceedings indicated that Mr. Lechli-ter did not “desire to continue on active duty.” A.R. vol. I, 210. Mr. Lechliter concurred with the MEB’s findings and recommendation. A.R. vol. I, 210.

Despite the MEB’s conclusions, the PEB found that Mr. Lechliter was “fit for duty” on Department of the Army (“DA”) Form 199 dated December 3, 1998. A.R. vol. I, 222. In particular, the PEB determined that Mr. Leehliter’s medical conditions “did not prevent satisfactory performance of duty.” A.R. vol. I, 222. On December 11, Mr. Lechliter indicated his non-concurrence with the PEB’s decision on the DA Form 199 by marking the “I do not concur” line and by noting, “I will submit an appeal after I receive my medical records ...” A.R. vol. I, 223. Mr. Lechliter did not mark the “I do not concur and demand a formal hearing” line on the form. Mr. Lechliter prepared a written appeal of the PEB’s decision. His appeal was dated December 21, 1998. A.R. vol. I, 224-226. [539]*539The appeal letter stated: “I appeal the PEB’s decision based primarily on my multiple orthopedic and neurological impair-ments____The following explanation of the impairments is provided to help the PEB put my present physical condition and ability to perform duties commensurate with my rank and specialities in the future ... As my supervisor stated, I am performing my present duties satisfactorily, but the billet I am in is unique.” A.R. vol. I, 224. In his appeal, he concluded, “If needed, I request to appear before a Formal Board hearing to argue my case.” A.R. vol. I, 226.

Portions of Mr. Lechliter’s appeal records, including Mr. Lechliter’s rebuttal argument, were not received by the PEB until January 19,1999, after the PEB had already affirmed the fitness-for-duty finding. A.R. vol. I, 244. The PEB had received the medical records and certain other papers before it made its decision, which the PEB concluded constituted Mr. Lechliter’s appeal. A.R. vol. I, 182. By letter dated December 29, 1998, the PEB denied this “appeal” and affirmed the decision of the informal PEB. A.R. vol. I, 242. The United States Army Physical Disability Agency (“USAPDA”) approved the PEB’s fit-for-duty finding on January 5, 1999. A.R. vol. I, 275. In a letter dated February 8, 1999, to the Commander of the 2nd General Hospital of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the president of the PEB, Colonel Ronald Grubb, stated that Mr. Lechliter’s case was closed as of January 11, 1999. A.R. vol. I, 244. Colonel Grubb noted that in a letter appeal from Mr. Lechliter dated December 21, 1998, there was “an undated change to the MEB narrative summary and a color photograph. This change to the original MEB added a diagnosis of valvular heart disease____Since this diagnosis was not included on the earlier MEB and therefore not evaluated by the PEB, you may wish to consider whether it would be appropriate to conduct a new MEB. As the case closed it cannot be readjudicated without a new MEB.... ” A.R. vol. I, 244.

B. Mr. Lechliter’s Retirement From the Army

By memorandum dated December 11, 1998, Mr. Lechliter requested a voluntary retirement. A.R. vol. I, 227-229. In the memorandum he noted that he had recently gone through “the MEB/PEB process.” A.R. vol. I, 227. He then requested an eleven month time-in-grade waiver to retire as a colonel, rather than a lieutenant colonel. A.R. vol. I, 227. Mr. Lechliter’s request stated, “If the time-in-grade waiver is not granted, this retirement request is withdrawn.” A.R. vol. I, 227. The government granted his request on January 25, 1999.

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70 Fed. Cl. 536, 2006 U.S. Claims LEXIS 212, 2006 WL 1189442, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lechliter-v-united-states-uscfc-2006.