RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  98-00462

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The narrative reason for her separation be  changed  from  personality
disorder to medical.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was diagnosed with epilepsy immediately after discharge  and  that
was the reason  for  her  personality  problems.   Her  condition  was
misdiagnosed by military doctors.

In support of her request, the applicant submits a statement from  her
civilian doctor and additional documents associated  with  the  issues
cited in her contentions (Exhibit A).
_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant's military personnel records reflect that  she  enlisted  in
the Regular Air Force on 19 November 1997 for a period of four years.

On  10  Dec  97,  the  applicant  was  notified  that  she  was  being
recommended for discharge  by  her  commander  for  a  condition  that
interferes  with  military  service,  mental   disorders   (adjustment
disorder with depressed mood).  Applicant waived her right to  consult
legal counsel and to submit statements in her own behalf.  On  12  Dec
97, the discharge authority approved the recommendation for  an  entry
level  separation  for  personality   disorder.    She   received   an
uncharacterized, entry level separation,  on  12  Dec  97,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-3208 (personality disorder).  She had completed a
total of 24 days of active duty service.

The relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the
letter  prepared  by  the  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant  (Exhibit   C).
Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts in this Record  of
Proceedings.
_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant  stated  that  three  weeks  into  basic
training, on  26  November  1997,  the  applicant  suffered  what  was
determined to be an orthostatic syncopal  episode  (fainted  when  she
assumed upright position).  She was admitted to Wilford  Hall  Medical
Center where a thorough neurological evaluation was performed.   After
resolution of her symptoms, she was returned to duty.  On  5  December
1997, she was referred for mental  health  evaluation  after  she  had
expressed some suicidal  thoughts.   This  evaluation  resulted  in  a
diagnosis of “Adjustment Disorder with  Mixed  Anxiety  and  Depressed
Mood.”   She  was  recommended  for   involuntary   separation   under
provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  paragraph  5.11.1,  Mental   Disorders.
Subsequent to her separation, the applicant has had further  follow-up
in the civilian sector and  has  been  diagnosed  with  post-traumatic
epilepsy (secondary to the head trauma  in  May  1997,  prior  to  her
enlistment) and reiteration of the Adjustment Disorder diagnosis.

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant stated that  the  applicant  experienced
considerable difficulty adjusting to an entirely new  environment  and
that  her  retention   would   have   been   problematic,   at   best.
Additionally, the head trauma suffered prior  to  her  enlistment  has
resulted in an epileptiform disorder for  which  medication  has  been
prescribed and which would render her ineligible for military service.
 The current Air Force Instruction regulating  separations  for  these
types of mental health problems does not allow coding for  other  than
“Personality Disorder,” an entirely  different  DSM-IV  code  sequence
from what the  applicant  was  diagnosed  with.   The  AFBCMR  Medical
Consultant is of the opinion that, in order to correct an injustice of
improperly  labeling  the  applicant's   disorder,   the   applicant's
narrative  reason  for  separation  should   be   changed   to   read:
“Secretarial Authority,” with the corresponding separation  designator
(SPD) code of KFF (Exhibit C).

The  Separation  Branch,  HQ  AFPC/DPPRS,  stated  that  provided   HQ
AFPC/DPPD determines the  applicant’s  reason  for  separation  should
remain administrative and not medical, they  concur  with  the  AFBCMR
Medical Consultant’s recommendation  that  her  narrative  reason  for
separation should be changed as recommended (Exhibit D).

The  Physical  Disability  Division,  HQ   AFPC/DPPD,   reviewed   the
application and verify that the applicant was  never  referred  to  or
considered by the Air Force Disability  Evaluation  System  under  the
provisions  of  AFI  36-3212.   The  decision  to  conduct  a  Medical
Evaluation Board (MEB) is  made  by  the  medical  treatment  facility
providing  care  to  the  member.   DPPD  recommended  denial  of  the
applicant’s request for a disability discharge.  The applicant has not
submitted any material or documentation to show that she was unfit due
to a physical disability under the provisions of Title 10, USC, at the
time of her involuntary administrative discharge (Exhibit E).
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant disagrees with the advisory opinion  from  HQ AFPC/DPPD.
She requests that the Board  disregard  this  opinion  and  grant  the
change in discharge and disability (Exhibit G).
_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the
existence of probable  error  or  injustice.   Although  there  is  no
indication that the applicant’s discharge was erroneous  or  that  her
medical condition diagnosed  subsequent  to  her  separation  met  the
criteria set forth in the law for a disability  separation,  there  is
evidence presented  which  warrants  some  relief.   After  thoroughly
considering the documentation pertaining to this appeal, we agree with
the opinion and recommendation of the AFBCMR Medical Consultant.   The
medical diagnosis of  “Adjustment  Disorder  with  Mixed  Anxiety  and
Depressed Mood,” assigned to the applicant at the time, appears to  be
inconsistent with the medical diagnosis entered on her DD Form 214  as
the reason for her separation.  Therefore,  in  order  to  correct  an
injustice  of  improperly  labeling  the  applicant’s   disorder,   we
recommend  the  applicant’s  reason  for  separation  be  changed   to
“Secretarial Authority,”  with  a  corresponding  separation  code  of
“KFF.”
_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that, in  conjunction  with
her entry level separation on  12 December  1997,  she  was  issued  a
separation program designator code of “KFF” and a narrative reason  of
“Secretarial Authority” rather than “Personality Disorder.”
_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 14 January 1999, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                  Ms. Martha Maust, Panel Chair
                  Ms. Ann L. Heidig, Member
              Mr. Jackson A. Hauslein, Member

All members  voted  to  correct  the  records,  as  recommended.   The
following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 16 Mar 98, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 4 Jun 98.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPRS, dated 16 Jul 98.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPD, dated 23 Jul 98.
   Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 10 Aug 98.
   Exhibit G.  Letter from applicant, undated.




                                   MARTHA MAUST
                                   Panel Chair



AFBCMR 98-00462




MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

      Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air
Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority
of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is
directed that:

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that, in conjunction
with her entry level separation on 12 December 1997, she was issued a
separation program designator code of “KFF” and a narrative reason of
“Secretarial Authority” rather than “Personality Disorder.”





            JOE G. LINEBERGER
                                        Director
                                        Air Force Review Boards Agency