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AF | BCMR | CY1999 | 9802259
Original file (9802259.doc) Auto-classification: Denied


                       RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  98-02259
            INDEX CODE:  124.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to show that all appropriate dental work  was
not completed within 90 days prior to his separation.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

A complete dental examination was conducted on 19  Dec  97.   However,
the noted problems  were  not  corrected  by  follow-up  care  due  to
retirement processing, holidays, and his inability to get  care  while
on terminal leave.

In support of his appeal, the applicant provided copies of his DD Form
214, Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  From  Active  Duty,  and
extracts from his dental record.

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.


_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant contracted his initial enlistment in the Regular  Air  Force
on 16 Nov 71.  He entered his last enlistment  on  30  Nov  91  for  a
period of 6 years.  On 9 Jun 97, the applicant extended his enlistment
for a period of 12 months, resulting in a date of separation (DOS)  of
29 Dec 98.  During his service on active duty,  he  was  progressively
promoted to the grade of senior master sergeant.

Applicant was relieved from active duty on 28 Feb 98 and  retired  for
length of service, effective 1 Mar 98, in the grade of  senior  master
sergeant.  He was credited with 26 years, 3 months,  and  15  days  of
active duty service.

The relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the
letter  prepared  by  the  appropriate  office  of  the   Air   Force.
Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts in this Record  of
Proceedings.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant reviewed this application and  recommended
denial.  The Medical Consultant indicated that a review of his  dental
records revealed the applicant was furnished a statement that  he  did
complete all  appropriate  dental  care  and  had  a  complete  dental
examination within 90 days  prior  to  his  separation.   Ongoing  and
chronic dental problems were noted at the examination on 19 Dec 97 and
follow-up care was recommended at a facility  in  Florida  during  his
period of terminal leave, care which, apparently, was not available.

The Medical Consultant noted  that  the  applicant  had  long-standing
dental and periodontal problems and had received care  throughout  his
military career.  A dental record entry,  dated  25 Nov  97  indicated
that the applicant had a poor history of compliance  with  maintenance
appointments following surgical therapy in  1977  and  1986  and  then
later compromised maintenance in March 1995.  Recommendations to  quit
smoking to improve his dental health was not followed.   According  to
the Medical Consultant, the dental conditions at retirement were long-
standing and at least partially due to the applicant’s  negligence  in
assuring timely and continuous dental care.

A complete copy of the Medical Consultant’s evaluation was at  Exhibit
C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant indicated that he was given a complete examination on 19 Dec
97.  The disposition was to seek care at an Air Force base in Florida,
hardly what would qualify as complete care.  The examination  revealed
three cavities that would  have  been  treated  had  he  not  departed
Ramstein Air  Base.   Upon  his  arrival  at  Eglin AFB,  Florida,  he
immediately carried his dental  records  to  the  dental  clinic.   He
informed the desk clerk of his status and  requested  appointments  to
take care of the problems noted in the  examination.   After  repeated
trips and lots of phone calls, he was finally given an appointment  to
have his partial repaired, but not for the other  problems.   When  he
arrived for his appointment on 10 Feb 98, he again requested that  the
front desk have his record reviewed and schedule appointments for care
to fix the other problems noted in Dec.  In mid to late  Feb,  he  was
advised hat further appointments were unavailable.

In applicant’s view, this is a yes  or  no  question  that  covered  a
period of 90 days prior to 1 Mar 98.  While the dental record showed a
complete examination, it also clearly showed that  complete  care  was
not provided.

Applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the  existence  of  probable  error  or  injustice.   The  applicant's
complete submission was thoroughly reviewed and his  contentions  were
duly noted.  However, we  do  not  find  his  assertions,  in  and  of
themselves, sufficiently persuasive to override the rationale provided
by  the  BCMR  Medical  Consultant.   Therefore,  in  the  absence  of
sufficient evidence to the contrary, we agree with the  recommendation
of the Medical Consultant and adopt his rationale as the basis for our
decision that the applicant  has  failed  to  sustain  his  burden  of
establishing that he has suffered either an  error  or  an  injustice.
Accordingly, 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 probable  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  this  application  in
Executive Session on 18 Feb 99, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
      Mr. Terry A. Yonkers, Member
      Ms. Peggy E. Gordon, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Aug 98, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 14 Sep 98.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 12 Oct 98.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, applicant, dated 27 Oct 98.




                                   RICHARD A. PETERSON
                                   Panel Chair



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