RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2002-01921
            INDEX CODE:  108.01
            COUNSEL:  Ms. Marcia B. Delaree

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His general (under honorable conditions) discharge  be  changed  to  reflect
that he was discharged for medical reasons.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He is being treated for a severe nervous stomach  condition,  schizophrenia,
and depression.  He was hearing voices while on  active  duty  which  caused
him to get into trouble.  He went to see a psychologist  but  his  condition
was not diagnosed and he did not receive proper treatment for his illness.

In support of his request, applicant provided an emergency room report  from
his hospital and a statement  of  claim  from  the  Department  of  Veterans
Affairs (DAV).  His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 1 Oct 97.   He  was  promoted
to the grade of airman with an effective date and date of rank of 1 Apr 98.

On 15  Feb  00,  applicant  was  notified  by  his  commander  that  he  was
recommending that he be discharged from the Air  Force  in  accordance  with
AFPD 36-32 and AFI 36-3208, paragraph 5.50, for  a  pattern  of  misconduct.
The  specific  reasons  for  this  action  was  he  received  a  Letter   of
Admonishment on 15 Jun 98; he received Letters of Reprimand on  22  Dec  98,
29 Oct 99, 12 Nov 99, and 8 Dec 99; he received a Letter  of  Counseling  on
12 Mar 99; and, he received Article 15 punishment on 18 Dec 98  and  26  Jan
00.  He was advised of his rights in this matter  and  acknowledged  receipt
of the notification on that same date.   On  18  Feb  00,  after  consulting
counsel, applicant submitted statements on his own behalf to  his  commander
requesting probation and rehabilitation and an honorable  discharge.   In  a
legal review of the case, the wing staff  judge  advocate,  found  the  case
legally sufficient and recommended that he  be  discharged  with  a  general
(under   honorable   conditions)   discharge,    without    probation    and
rehabilitation.  The discharge authority concurred with  the  recommendation
and directed that he be discharged.  Applicant was discharged from  the  Air
Force on 7 Mar 00.  He served 2 years, 5 months, and 7 days on active  duty.


On 18 Mar 01, the Department of Veterans'  Affairs  denied  the  applicant's
claims for service connection for schizophrenia, a stomach condition, and  a
depression condition.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical  Consultant  recommends  denial.   The  Medical  Consultant
states that mental health evaluation prior to his discharge  for  misconduct
found no evidence  of  unfitting  mental  illness  including  schizophrenia.
There is no documentation available to evaluate his contention that  he  was
diagnosed with schizophrenia following  his  discharge.   There  is  nothing
noted in the nature of his  misconduct,  or  in  his  medical  records  that
suggests he was experiencing  symptoms  of  schizophrenia  while  on  active
duty.  There is no unusual behavior documented that  in  retrospect  may  be
viewed  as  representing  prodromal  phase.   Difficulties  with  anger  and
marital difficulties are not specific enough and are common  in  individuals
without mental illness.  This fact would suggest  he  experienced  a  sudden
onset of symptoms soon after discharge leading to  diagnosis.   He  contends
his misconduct is due to hearing voices however  there  is  nothing  in  the
nature of the incidents  such  as  bizarre  or  unusual  behavior  noted  in
association with the  misconduct  that  suggest  they  were  the  result  of
psychotic thinking that would mitigate the circumstances.  He was  evaluated
on three occasions in February 2000, by mental health professionals  and  on
each occasion, his  mental  status  examination  was  normal.   The  Medical
Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPD recommends denial.   DPPD  states  that  he  received  a  physical
examination records review in conjunction  with  his  involuntary  discharge
process and it was determined  he  was  qualified  for  worldwide  duty  and
medically cleared for his ongoing discharge.  Documentation in  his  records
verifies he  was  potentially  and  reasonably  capable  of  performing  his
military duties; however, it appears he constantly required  counseling  and
supervision  to  motivate  and  redirect  him  toward  proper  goals.    His
performance reports confirm  he  was  capable  to  performing  his  military
duties, although comments do refer to his difficulty to operate  effectively
in a military environment.  He was treated for  various  medical  conditions
throughout his military career;  however,  his  records  show  no  condition
existed that should have resulted in his referral to a Medical  or  Physical
Evaluation Board.  He did not submit any documentation to  substantiate  his
claim that this current medical condition of schizophrenia existed  and  was
unfitting while on active duty.  The DPPD evaluation 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  28
Feb 03 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 probable error or injustice.  We see no  evidence  which  would
lead us to believe that at the time of his separation, he  suffered  from  a
physical  condition  that  would  disqualify  him  from  worldwide  military
service.  Since there were no disqualifying medical conditions at  the  time
of his separation, he would not have been eligible for consideration in  the
disability evaluation system.  Therefore, we agree  with  the  opinions  and
recommendations of the Air  Force  offices  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.   In  the  absence  of
persuasive evidence  to  the  contrary,  we  find  no  compelling  basis  to
recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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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.

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The following members of the Board considered  Docket  Number  BC-2002-01921
in Executive Session on 6 May 03, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Roscoe Hinton, Jr., Panel Chair
      Ms. Mary J. Johnson, Member
      Mr. Vaughn Schlunz, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 9 Jun 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 13 Jan 03.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPD, dated 20 Feb 03.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Feb 03.




                                   ROSCOE HINTON JR.
                                   Panel Chair