RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00384
                                       INDEX CODE:  112.10

      XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX               COUNSEL: NONE

      XXXXXXXXX                         HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment eligibility (RE)  code  be  changed  from  2Q,  so  he  can
reenlist in the military.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was misdiagnosed with Narcolepsy and wrongfully separated  from  the  Air
Force.

In support of his application, the applicant provided a statement  from  his
employer and medical records initiated at a Department of  Veterans  Affairs
(DVA)  medical  facility.   The  applicant’s   complete   submission,   with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 5 August 1998, the applicant enlisted in the Regular  Air  Force  at  the
age of 18 in the grade of airman basic for a period of four  years.   On  15
May  1999,  following  his  successful  completion  of  basic  military  and
technical training, the applicant was  assigned  to  duties  as  a  Security
Forces Apprentice.

On 21 June 2000, the applicant, who was then serving in the grade of  airman
first class (E-3), was diagnosed with Narcolepsy following  a  referral  for
excessive daytime sleepiness and for increased sleepiness over the  previous
four to six months.  The applicant’s case was referred for consideration  by
a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB).  The  MEB  was  held  on  1  August  2000.
Based on a diagnosis of “Pathologic  hypersomnolence,”  incurred  while  the
applicant was entitled to basic pay and  which  had  not  existed  prior  to
service, the MEB recommended that  the  case  be  referred  to  an  informal
Physical Evaluation Board  (IPEB).   The  Hospital  Commander  approved  the
MEB’s findings  and  recommendation.   The  applicant  was  advised  of  the
foregoing decision and declined to submit a Letter of Exception.

On 21 August 2000, the IPEB convened to consider the  applicant’s  case  and
found him unfit  for  further  military  service  due  to  “Hypersomnolence,
Narcolepsy-like.” The IPEB further found  the  disability  was  incurred  in
line of duty in time of war or national  emergency  or  after  14  September
1978, the condition was ratable at 10%, and that the  degree  of  impairment
might be permanent.  The IPEB noted that his condition impacted his  ability
to perform duties as  a  security  policeman  and  recommended  that  he  be
discharged with severance pay.  The applicant agreed with the  PEB  findings
on 25 August 2000.

On 10 October 2000,  the  applicant  was  honorably  discharged  because  of
physical disability with entitlement to  disability  severance  pay  in  the
amount of $5,042.40.  He had served 2 years, 2 months and 6 days  on  active
duty.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPAE recommends denial.  DPPAE indicated  that  the  RE-2Q  (personnel
medically retired or discharged) was properly accessed  to  the  applicant’s
record as he was discharged in accordance with Air  Force  directives.   The
AFPC/DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit C.

The BCMR Medical Consultant also reviewed this application  and  is  of  the
opinion that no change in  the  records  is  warranted.   The  BCMR  Medical
Consultant’s assessment is at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force Evaluations were forwarded to the  applicant  on  18
October 2002, for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date,  this
office has received no response.

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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 error or injustice.   Evidence  has  not  been  provided  which
would lead us to believe that  applicant  improperly  separated  because  of
physical disability with the assignment of a corresponding RE-2Q.  While  it
may be that there is some question  as  to  the  correct  diagnosis  in  the
applicant’s case, the record clearly  shows  that  his  separation  had  its
basis in symptoms that created sufficient doubt concerning his  fitness  for
duty to warrant disability  processing.   Following  a  medical  workup  and
reviews by the Medical Board and the IPEB, it was  determined  that  he  was
unfit to perform his duties.  As a result,  his  separation  for  disability
was required by the governing regulation,  which  implements  the  law.   In
view of the foregoing and absent persuasive evidence indicating the  reports
of the applicant’s symptoms and their affects on his ability to perform  his
duties were erroneous, or showing the governing  regulations  were  violated
or he was not afforded all rights to which entitled  during  his  disability
processing, we agree with the  opinion  and  recommendation  of  the  AFBCMR
Medical Consultant and find that the applicant has not sustained his  burden
for providing a showing of error or injustice.  Accordingly, his request  is
not favorably considered.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented  did  not  demonstrate
the existence of 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 3 December 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Joseph G. Diamond, Panel Chair
      Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Member
      Mr. James W. Russell, III, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with  AFBCMR
Docket No. 02-00384:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 14 Dec 01, with attachments.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 9 Oct 02.
      Exhibit D.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 20 Jun 02.
      Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 Oct 02.




                                                   JOSEPH G. DIAMOND
                                                   Panel Chair