DEPARTMENT OF THE A1R  FORCE 

WASHINGTON, DC 

Office of the Assistant Secretary 

AFBCMR 97-01031 

OCT  2  3  1998 

MEMORANDUM FOR  THE CHIEF OF STAFF 

Under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States 
Code, Air Force Instruction 36-2603, and having assured compliance 
with the provisions of the above  regulation, the decision of the 
Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records is announced, 
and it is directed that: 

The pertinen 
Force relating to 
show that: 

tment of the Air 
be corrected to 

a.  On 16 August  1996, he was found unfit to perform the 

duties of his office, rank, grade, or rating by reason of physical 
disability, incurred while he was entitled to receive basic pay; 
that the diagnoses in his case were:  (1) Epstein-Barr virus 
associated with chronic fatigue, VA diagnostic code 6354, rated at 
20% and  (2) Irritable Bowel Syndrome, VA diagnostic code 7319, 
rated at 10%;~that the compensable percentage was 30%; that the 
degree of impairment might be permanent; that the disability was 
incurred in the line of duty in time of war or national emergency 
or after 14 September 1978; that the disability was not the direct 
result of armed conflict or was caused by an instrumentality of 
and that 
war and incurred in line of duty during a period of war; 
the disability was not the direct result of a combat related 
injury. 

b.  At the time of his discharge because of physical 

disability on 9 October 1996, he was not entitled to disability 
severance pay, but, effective 10 October 1996, he was permanently 
retired by reason of physical disability. 

Air Force Board for Correction 
of Military Records 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON, DC 

Office of the Assistant Secretary 

AFBCMR 97-01031 

MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATION BEFORE THE AFBCMR 
SUBJECT : 

Having carefully re vie wed^ this application, we agree with 

the recommendation of the Air Foqce  (HQ AFPC/DPPD) and adopt the 
rationale expressed as the basis for our decision that the 
applicant has been the victim of either an error or an injustice. 
Therefore, under the authority delegated in AFI 36-2603, the 
applicant's records will be corrected as set forth in the 
accompanying Memorandum for the Chief of Staff signed by the 
Executive Director of the Board or his designee. 

Attachment: 
Ltr, HQ AFPC/DPPD, dtd 31 Jul 98 

Panel Chair 

v 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE PERSONNEL CENTER 

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS 

. .  

d 

MEMORANDUM FOR AFBCMR 

-.  FROM: 

AFPC/DPPD 
550 C Street West Ste 06 
Randolph AFB TX 78 150-4708 

I Correction of Military Records -, 

PURPOSE:  This advisory is in reply to 
directing an Informal Physical Evaluation Boar 
disability condition to include a 4 Aug 95 commander’s letter that was previously unavailable to 
the board. 

FACTS:  On 11 Jul96, the IPEB found the applicant unft for two separate conditions, 

irritable bowel syndrome and Epstein-Barr virus associated with chronic fatigue and arthralgias. 
Each condition was rated under the VA Schedule as 10 percent disabling and the board 
recommended his discharge with severance pay with a combined 20 percent compensable 
disability rating.  While the member initially requested an appearance before the Formal PEB 
(FPEB) to appeal this finding, he changed his mind and concurred with the IPEB 
recommendations.  Subsequently, officials within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force 
directed his discharge with severance pay, which was effective 9 Oct 96. 

In response to 

memo, the IPEB reviewed the 4 Aug 95 commander’s 

letter previously missing from the applicant disability case and on 17 Jul98 convened to 
reconsider his case.  After deliberations they remarked, “The IPEB, after carefully reviewing the 
new information in addition to that available to the IPEB on 11 Jul96, has concluded that if this 
4 Aug 95 letter had originally been available to the board,  more detailed medical information 
would have been sought concerning member’s functional disability from his Chronic Fatigue 
Syndrome prior to reaching a final disability rating recommendation.  It appears that this 
information would have been similar to that included in the VA Hospital notes that now 
accompany the AFBCMR case file.  Although the member had several periods of leave in the 
early 1990’s, when the commander’s letter was written the member’s disability seemed to be 
limited tb two 15 minute naps a day and periodic dizzy spells.  By following the Department of 
Defense disability guidelines, the member’s Chronic Fatigue would have been rated 20 percent 
disabling vice 10.  The member’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome was correctly rated at 10 percent 
during the original IPEB.  The combined compensable disability rating would then be established 

as 30 percent.  Since the member’s condition had stabilized over the four year period from 1992- 
1995, the IPEB would have found this member unfit and recommended his permanent retirement 
with a 30 percent disability rating.” 

RECOMMENDATION:  Recommend approval of the applicant’s request.  Also 

recommend that the AFBCMR direct applicant’s discharge with severance pay with a 20 percent 
disability rating under the provisions of Title 10, USC, 1203 be set aside; that his permanent 
records reflect that he was approved for a permanent disability retirement under the provisions of 
Title 10, USC, 1201 effective 9 Oct 96, and the following changes be included in his permanent 
records. 

(1)  AFBCMR direct HQ AFPCiDPPD to complete an AF Form 356, Findings and 

Recommended Disposition of USAF Physical Evaluation Board, to include in Item 9A: 
Category I diagnoses of “Epstein-Barr virus associated with chronic fatigue and Irritable Bowel 
Syndrome”; that the condition was incurred in the line of duty; that the condition Epstein-Barr 
virus associated with chronic fatigue be rated at 20 percent disabling, that the condition for 
Irritable Bowel Syndrome be rated at 10 percent disabling for an overall combined disability 
rating of 28 percent under the provisions of VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) for 
VA diagnostic codes 6354 and 73 19 respectively; that Items 1 OA  and 1 OB  be checked “Yes” and 
Items 1 OC  and 1 OD  be checked “No”; that Item I 1 include “3 0” percent compensable percentage, 
and Item 12 reflect “Permanent Retirement.” 

(2)  AFBCMR direct HQ AFPC/DPPD advise the issuing authority ofAF Form 100, 

Request and Authorization for Separation, concerning applicant’s separation to make appropriate 
order corrections. 

Should the AFBCMR agree with our findings and direct the above changes, we 

recommend the AFBCMR contact DFAS Cleveland in regards to matters concerning any back 
pay due. 

Directorate of Pers Prog Management 

Attachment: 
Case File 

cc: 
SAFMIBR