RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-00819 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His narrative reason for separation be changed from “Hardship” to 
a medical discharge. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

His back has given him problems ever since he separated from the 
military. He has received 30 treatments for pain. At the time of 
his separation from the military, he did not apply for a 
disability discharge because he did not need it; however, he 
needs it now due to medical problems he is experiencing. 

 

In support of his application, applicant submits a personal 
statement, a copy of DD Form 256AF, Honorable Discharge 
Certificate, a copy of his certificate of service from the Army, 
a copy of WD AGO 53-280, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation 
Certificate of Service, and a letter for the National Personnel 
Records Center. 

 

Applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit 
A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

Based on the available documentation on file, the applicant 
enlisted in the Air Force on 5 October 1948. 

 

On 3 May 1949, he was diagnosed with a lumbo-sacral strain and 
referred to the orthopaedics clinic. A Report of Medical 
Examination, dated 8 May 1950 failed to show the presence of a 
chronic or duty-limiting back ailment. 

 

On 11 May 1950, he was honorably discharged for hardship reasons 
and transferred to the Air Force Reserve until 3 July 1951. He 
served 1 year, 7 months and 6 days of total active service. 

 

 

 

 


The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) denied the applicant's 
claim for service connected disability benefits for chronic back 
pain, citing his military service condition was likely temporary 
and resolved after treatment. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial of the applicant's 
request and states that there is no record of chronic treatment 
of a back ailment, nor a resultant chronic functional impairment 
requiring imposition of duty restrictions that prohibited the 
applicant's worldwide qualification. He has not met the burden of 
proof of a medical condition that warranted compensation by the 
Military Disability Evaluation System. While his back strain 
clearly occurred during military service, the BCMR Medical 
Consultant could not establish a connection with his current 
chronic degenerative disc disease or arthritis; a condition that 
likely represents the natural progression of the aging process 
and not the result of a service-incurred disease of injury. 

 

 

BCMR Medical Consultant's complete evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant 
on 29 June 2009 for review and comment within 30 days. As of 
this date, this office has received no response. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 
law or regulations. 

 

2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 

 

3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice warranting a 
change in his narrative reason for separation. Applicant’s 
contentions are duly noted; however, we agree with the opinions 
and recommendation of the BCMR Medical Consultant and adopt his 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has 
not been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, in the 
absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, we find no 
compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this 
application. 

 


_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of a material error or injustice; that 
the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 
that the application will only be reconsidered upon the 
submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered 
with this application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-
BC-2009-00819 in Executive Session on 22 September 2009, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2009-00819 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, undated, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 29 Jun 09. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 Jul 09. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair