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ISCR Case 25-00050 — CASE

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ISCR Case 25-00050

A decided public DOHA case, shown for research — not advice or a prediction.

Case Profile
Decision Date7/23/2025
Statusdenied
LevelHEARING
TypeSTANDARD ISCR
Participants
Applicant Representation: Pro Se
Judge: Edward W. Loughran
Government Counsel: Mark D. Lawton
Case Summary
The applicant in this case was a 39-year-old employee of a defense contractor who sought a security clearance. The Department of Defense issued a Statement of Reasons citing concerns under Guideline E (personal conduct) and Guideline I (psychological conditions). The core allegations included a history of mental health issues, substance abuse, and a pattern of dishonesty.
The applicant admitted to a troubled past, including substance abuse and mental health challenges dating back to his youth. He had been hospitalized for an overdose and had a history of using various drugs, including Adderall and marijuana. Although he claimed to have stopped using Adderall around 2010 and marijuana in 2021, inconsistencies in his statements regarding his drug use were noted. He had received ongoing mental health treatment and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and other conditions. Despite some positive developments in his life, such as improved mental health and stable employment, concerns about his judgment and reliability persisted.
The administrative judge ruled that the applicant had mitigated the concerns under Guideline E but failed to do so under Guideline I. The judge concluded that the applicant's psychological conditions, including a history of impulsivity and dishonesty, impaired his judgment and reliability, which are critical for safeguarding classified information. Consequently, the applicant's eligibility for access to classified information was denied.
Guidelines Evaluated
- Guideline EPersonal Conduct · For Applicant
- Guideline IPsychological Conditions · Against Applicant
Similar decisions
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Case Headnote

ISCR Case No. 25-00050

deniedJul 23, 2025· Hon. Edward W. Loughran· hearing

Summary

A 39-year-old defense contractor was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline E (Personal Conduct) and Guideline I (Psychological Conditions). While the applicant did not intentionally falsify two security questionnaires in December 2021 and June 2022, a chronic pattern of withholding information, misinformation, misdirection, and dishonesty was alleged.

Under Guideline I, the applicant's history included diagnoses of bipolar I, bipolar II, and unspecified bipolar and related disorder. The applicant underwent inpatient mental health treatment in 2001, 2007, and 2012, and reported suicidal ideation in 2007, along with an intentional overdose on cough suppressant in 2001. Additionally, the applicant entered two inpatient rehabilitation programs in 2007 without the intention of seeking treatment.

Despite some mitigating factors applied under Guideline E, the applicant failed to mitigate the security concerns related to psychological conditions. The decision to deny the security clearance was based on the applicant's history of mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and substance abuse, which were determined to impair judgment and reliability.

Why the Applicant Prevailed

The applicant mitigated security concerns under Guideline E (personal conduct).

Conditions Referenced

Disqualifying

AG ¶ 28(a)appliedBehavior That Casts Doubt on Judgment
AG ¶ 28(b)appliedOpinion by a Mental Health Professional
AG ¶ 28(c)appliedInpatient Hospitalization

Mitigating

AG ¶ 29(a)rejectedCondition Controllable with TreatmentThe applicant's psychological conditions were not sufficiently controlled to mitigate security concerns.
AG ¶ 29(b)rejectedVoluntary Counseling or TreatmentWhile the applicant engaged in treatment, it did not sufficiently mitigate the concerns.
AG ¶ 29(c)rejectedRecent Opinion of Mental Health ProfessionalThe mental health professional's opinion indicated ongoing issues that impair judgment.

Key Rule Quoted

“The protection of the national security is the paramount consideration.”

Procedural Posture

SOR issuedMar 27, 2025
Answer filed—
Hearing heldJul 9, 2025
Decision dateJul 23, 2025

Cite For

Mitigation of Personal Conduct Under Guideline E
Disqualifying Conditions Related to Psychological Issues Under Guideline I
Impact of Mental Health History on Security Clearance Eligibility

Editorial summary generated for research. Not legal advice; not a prediction. Verify against the full decision before relying on any quoted language.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline E (Personal Conduct) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant did not intentionally falsify information on the security questionnaires and mitigated the personal conduct concerns. However, the overall security concerns were not fully mitigated, leading to a denied outcome.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Conduct	Concealed Issue	Response	Disqualifying (¶16)	Mitigating applied (¶17)	Mitigation
2.a	Applicant did not intentionally falsify the June 2022 Questionnaire for National Security Positions.	For Applicant	Omission or Failure to Disclose	—	Denied	—	—	—
2.b	Applicant did not intentionally falsify the December 2021 Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions.	For Applicant	Omission or Failure to Disclose	—	Denied	—	—	—
2.c	Applicant entered two inpatient rehabilitation programs in 2007 with no intention of getting treatment.	For Applicant	Questionable Judgment General	—	Denied	—	—	—
2.d	specific text not stated in this decision	For Applicant	Unspecified Personal Conduct	—	Unknown	—	—	—
2.e	Applicant exhibited a chronic pattern of withholding information, misinformation, misdirection, and dishonesty.	For Applicant	Pattern of Dishonesty or Rule Violations	—	Denied	—	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline E). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Standardized Decision Profile

SEAD-4 Guideline I (Psychological Conditions) · descriptive summary of a decided case

Posture: HearingDecided: denied

The judge found that the applicant had multiple psychological conditions, including diagnoses of bipolar I and II disorders, and a history of inpatient treatment and suicidal ideation. Despite the applicant's claims of improved mental health and compliance with treatment, the judge concluded that the security concerns related to the applicant's psychological conditions were not sufficiently mitigated.

¶	Allegation	Finding	Type	Response	Disqualifying (¶28)	Mitigating applied (¶29)	Mitigation
1.a	Applicant was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder.	Against Applicant	Mood Disorder Diagnosed	Denied	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—
1.b	Applicant was an inpatient for mental health treatment in 2001, 2007, and 2012.	Against Applicant	Psychiatric Hospitalization	Denied	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—
1.c	Applicant was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.	Against Applicant	Mood Disorder Diagnosed	Denied	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—
1.d	Applicant was diagnosed with unspecified bipolar and related disorder.	Against Applicant	Mood Disorder Diagnosed	Denied	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—
1.e	Applicant reported suicidal ideation in 2007.	Against Applicant	Suicidal Ideation or Attempt	Denied	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—
1.f	Applicant intentionally overdosed on cough suppressant in 2001.	Against Applicant	Suicidal Ideation or Attempt	Denied	(a) behavior that casts doubt on judgment/stability/reliability/trustworthiness, not covered under any other guideline, indicating an emotional/mental/per… (b) an opinion by a duly qualified mental health professional that the individual has a condition that may impair judgment/stability/reliability/trustwort…	—	—

Descriptive standardized rendering of a decided public case (Guideline I). The verbatim source decision is shown in full below.

Full decision

The complete, official text — footnotes and signatures included — is in the original PDF.