RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  01-01156
            INDEX NUMBER:  108.02
      XXXXXXXXXXXXXX   COUNSEL:  None

      XXX-XX-XXXX      HEARING DESIRED:  No

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His  service-connected  disabilities  as  documented  in  his  military
medical records be reevaluated to determine the maximum allowed  rating
percentage.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The severity of his disabilities was misdiagnosed during his retirement
physical and thereafter.

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The  applicant  completed  26  years  of  active  service  and  retired
effective 1 May 1989 in the grade  of  master  sergeant  (E-7)  due  to
maximum years of  service  allowed  by  policy.   The  remaining  facts
relevant to this application are contained in the  evaluation  prepared
by the appropriate office of the Air Force found at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends  denial  of  the  applicant’s
request.

The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show disability
retirement for degenerative  lumbar  spine  disease,  his  treated  eye
condition   (lattice   degeneration   with    retinal    holes),    and
pseudofolliculitis barbae.

Evidence in the service medical record clearly documents a  history  of
lumbar pain on an intermittent  basis  including  pain  thought  to  be
consistent  with  sciata  (pain  radiating  down  the  leg)  suggesting
irritation of the sciatic nerve root by a bulging disc.   Eleven  years
after retiring from  the  Air  Force,  he  was  diagnosed  with  spinal
stenosis due to his degenerative spine disease  and  required  surgery.
This is a very common condition occurring in nearly all people as  they
age.  Low back pain is also an extremely common complaint that does not
correlate with the severity of x-ray changes.  Some people with  normal
x-rays complain of severe pain, and some with  advanced  x-ray  changes
have little or no pain.  The degenerative  process  is  slow  occurring
over years (decades), and in some individuals can result in a condition
called spinal stenosis.  There is no evidence that at the time  of  his
retirement the applicant was experiencing any symptoms  from  his  back
that interfered with his fitness for duty.  In  fact,  he  was  playing
racquetball in Dec 88, 4 months before retirement.

The applicant had a condition related  to  his  nearsightedness  called
lattice degeneration with associated retina holes that was successfully
treated in 1980 with cryopexy (surgical procedure that employs cold  to
stabilize the retina and arrest progression  of  the  condition).   His
vision was preserved and he remained on active duty.  His eye condition
once treated was not unfitting for continued service and he experienced
no  further  problems   as   documented   by   periodic   ophthalmology
examinations.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps)  is  a  common  skin  condition
affecting the bearded area  where  shaving  results  in  ingrown  hairs
producing inflamed bumps that itch, can  become  infected  and  produce
undesirable cosmetic changes in pigmentation and cause  scarring.   The
condition resolves with cessation of  shaving.   Air  Force  appearance
standards do not allow  a  beard.   Affected  members  are  allowed  to
maintain stubble under the supervision of the Pseudofolliculitis Barbae
clinic, which are normally found at all bases.  The  condition  is  not
unfitting for military service.

Review of medical records does not disclose  any  evidence  to  support
correction of records from length of service retirement  to  disability
retirement.  Available records  indicate  the  applicant  was  fit  and
medically  qualified  for  continued  military  service,  retention  or
appropriate separation and did not have any physical or mental  defects
which would have warranted consideration  in  the  military  disability
system.

The complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant responded that he disagreed with all opinions in the BCMR
Medical   Consultant’s   evaluation   with   the   exception   of   the
nearsightedness called lattice  degeneration  with  associated  retinal
holes.  Applicant  provides  examples  of  specific  portions  that  he
disagrees with and discusses his present day medical condition.

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, 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  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 error or injustice.  We took notice of the applicant's
complete submission in judging the merits  of  the  case;  however,  we
agree with the opinions and recommendation of the Air Force  office  of
primary responsibility and adopt their 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 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 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 Docket Number 01-01156 in
Executive Session on 13 September 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:

      Mr. Roscoe Hinton, Jr., Panel Chair
      Mr. John E.B. Smith, Member
      Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 Apr 01, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Memorandum, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated
                17 Jul 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 22 Jul 02.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 20 Aug 02


                                   ROSCOE HINTON, JR.
                                   Panel Chair