RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2002-03817
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code be changed.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His discharge was based on having bipolar disorder.  A  physician  with  the
Department  of  Veterans  Affairs  (DVA)  in   Tennessee   overturned   this
diagnosis.

In  support  of  his  appeal,   the   applicant   provided   a   letter   of
recommendation, dated 1 August 2001, VA  Rating  Decision,  dated  16 August
2002, and a copy his Certificate of Release or Discharge  from  Active  Duty
(DD Form 214).

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 3 February 1999 in the  grade
of airman basic for a period of six years.

Medical records reveal the following:

On 25 April  2001,  the  applicant  was  hospitalized  following  a  suicide
attempt.  He was diagnosed with  bipolar  disorder,  depressed,  unspecified
degree,  prolonged  post-traumatic  stress  disorder,  poisoning  by   other
specified analgesics and antipyretics.




On 10 July 2001 the applicant was seen by a Medical Evaluation  Board  (MEB)
and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder  as  manifested  by  unstable  mood,
periods of highs and lows, predominantly depressed mood,  suicidal  attempt,
insomnia,  loss  of  interest,  or  pleasure,  withdrawal,  easily  annoyed,
irritable,  hopeless  and  helpless,  no   energy,   lacks   confidence   or
motivation, difficulty thinking, and poor concentration.   They  recommended
his case be referred to the Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB).

The Findings and Recommended Disposition of the IPEB  dated  13 August  2001
found the applicant unfit for duty and recommended  he  be  discharged  with
severance pay with a 10% disability rating based on the following:

      Category I - Unfitting Conditions that are  compensable  and  ratable:
bipolar disorder associated with post-traumatic stress  disorder.   Definite
social and industrial adaptability impairment.  His disability was rated  at
10%  (current  rating  30%,  less  contributing/aggravating   factors   20%,
compensable disability rating 10%).


      Category II - Conditions that can be unfitting but are  not  currently
compensable or ratable:  Migraine Headaches.

      Category III - Conditions that are not separately  unfitting  and  not
compensable or ratable:  Personality Traits not otherwise specified.

The IPEB further indicated that the applicant’s interrelated  mental  health
conditions prevented  him  from  performing  duties  commensurate  with  his
office, grade, rank, or rating.  The IPEB  noted  the  applicant’s  definite
social and industrial  adaptability  impairment  rating;  however,  it  also
noted  his  personality  traits  and  pre-disposition  evident  from   early
childhood.  The IPEB opined these two factors, which  were  non-ratable/non-
compensable  under  disability  law/policy,   significantly   affected   the
severity of the applicant’s mental health condition.  Were it not for  those
factors, the  applicant’s  social  and  industrial  adaptability  impairment
rating would best be described as mild in accordance with  (IAW)  Department
of Defense (DOD) and VASRD guidelines.

On 27 August 2001, the applicant signed an AF Form 1180 (Action on  Physical
Evaluation Board Findings and Recommended Disposition)  indicating  that  he
agreed with the  findings  and  recommended  disposition  of  the  IPEB  and
understood he was waiving the right to a formal PEB hearing.

On 30 August 2001 the  Secretary  of  the  Air  Force  determined  that  the
applicant was physically unfit for continued military service  and  directed
a disability discharge under the provisions of 10 USC 1203.

The applicant’s performance rating for the period 3 February 1999 through  2
October 2000 reflected a rating of 5.

On 22 October 2001 the applicant was honorably discharged in  the  grade  of
senior airman, under the provisions of AFI  36-3208  (Disability,  Severance
Pay).  He served a total of 2 years, 8 months, and 20 days of  total  active
service.  The applicant received an RE code  of  2Q  -  Personnel  medically
retired or discharged.

The applicant  provided  a  DVA  Rating  Decision,  dated  16  August  2002,
awarding 50% for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder effective  23  October  2001
and  reducing  the  rating  to  10  percent  effective  8 April  2002  after
completion of a formal mental health evaluation.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The AFBCMR Chief Medical Consultant recommended denial.  He  indicated  that
the applicant was disability discharged due to mental illness  diagnosed  as
Bipolar  Disorder  and  Post  Traumatic  Stress  Disorder  PTSD  (caused  by
significant childhood trauma).  His significant history of  childhood  abuse
and the presence  of  maladaptive  personality  traits  (thought  to  be  of
sufficient severity to have warranted a diagnosis  of  personality  disorder
by the inpatient psychiatrists) were  significant  contributing  factors  to
the severity of his condition.  Following discharge, his diagnosis  of  PTSD
was confirmed by DVA mental health evaluation  but  apparently  the  Bipolar
Disorder Diagnosis was not maintained.  The applicant’s psychiatric  history
while on active duty is clearly  disqualifying  for  continued  service  and
disqualifying for reentry  even  if  his  symptoms  have  improved  and  his
current diagnosis is only the PTSD.  Bipolar Disorder is a  chronic  illness
characterized by recurrent symptoms over many years.   PTSD  likewise  is  a
chronic disorder in many.

PTSD  is  a  very  complex  syndrome  resulting  from  psychological  trauma
resulting in  significant  somatic,  cognitive,  affective,  and  behavioral
effects.   PTSD  is  characterized  by   intrusive   thoughts,   nightmares,
flashbacks of traumatic  events,  and  avoidance  of  reminders  of  trauma,
hypervigilence, and sleep disturbance.  These symptoms lead to  considerable
social,  occupational  and  interpersonal  dysfunction.    Previous   trauma
increases the risk for developing PTSD  with  subsequent  traumatic  events.
Psychiatric co-morbidity is high, especially depression,  anxiety  disorder,
and substance  abuse.   Substance  abuse  is  often  due  to  the  patient’s
attempts to self medicate symptoms.  Diagnosis is difficult as a  result  of
the heterogeneity of presentation and reluctance of affected individuals  to
discuss the traumatic events.  PTSD is a chronic  condition,  only  a  third
recover after one year,  and  one-third  are  still  symptomatic  after  ten
years.  Individuals with one or  more  PTSD  symptoms  are  more  likely  to
experience marital difficulties and  occupational  problems.   Treatment  is
complex, individualized, and often, long term  requiring  psychotherapy  and
medications.  Action and disposition in this case are proper  and  equitable
reflecting compliance with Air Force directives that implement the law.

The evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPD  recommended  denial.   They   indicated   that   the   disability
processing records indicate an MEB was initiated at McGuire AFB, New  Jersey
on 11 July 2001, and the results referred to the IPEB.  The Board found  his
medical condition for Bipolar Disorder as unfitting for  continued  military
service and recommended he be  discharged  with  severance  pay  with  a  10
percent disability rating.  His migraine headaches were  also  addressed  at
this time; however, they were not considered unfitting at the  time  of  the
MEB.  The service member agreed with the  Board’s  findings,  and  officials
within the Office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Air  Force  directed  he  be
discharged with entitlement to severance pay with a  10  percent  disability
rating under the provisions of Title 10, USC, Section 1203.

Having reviewed the BCMR Medical Consultant’s assessment, they conclude  the
applicant was treated fairly throughout the Air Force Disability  Evaluation
System (DES), that he was afforded the opportunity  for  further  review  in
which he elected not to do so, and that he was properly rated under  current
Federal disability laws and policy.  To change the RE code would  appear  to
be counter productive towards the disability process already finalized,  and
possibly allow an unfit member  to  reenlist  after  he  was  already  found
unacceptable  for  the  rigors  of  military  service.   The  BCMR   Medical
Consultant explicitly explains  the  medical  aspects  of  this  case;  they
wholeheartedly concur with his comments and recommendation.   The  applicant
has not provided sufficient documentation to indicate an injustice  occurred
at the time of his process through the Air Force DES.

The evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAE  recommended  denial.   They  indicated  that  the  RE  code  the
applicant received 2Q is correct.

The evaluation is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 3 July 2003, copies of the Air Force evaluations were  forwarded  to  the
applicant for review and response within 30  days.   As  of  this  date,  no
response has been received by this office.

_________________________________________________________________

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 an error or injustice that would warrant a  change  to  his  RE
code.   After  a  thorough  review  of  the  evidence  of  record  and   the
applicant’s submission, it is  our  opinion  that  given  the  circumstances
surrounding his separation from the Air Force,  the  RE  code  assigned  was
proper and in compliance with the  appropriate  directives.   The  applicant
has not provided any evidence which would  lead  us  to  believe  otherwise.
The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  indicates  that  following  the  applicant’s
discharge  his  diagnosis  of  PTSD  was  confirmed  by  DVA  mental  health
evaluation  but  apparently  the  Bipolar   Disorder   Diagnosis   was   not
maintained.  As the Medical Consultant states, the  applicant’s  psychiatric
history while  on  active  duty  was  clearly  disqualifying  for  continued
service and disqualifying for reentry even if his symptoms improved and  the
current diagnosis is only the PTSD.  We note that Bipolar Disorder and  PTSD
are chronic illnesses characterized by recurrent symptoms over  many  years.
Therefore, we agree with the Air Force  offices  of  primary  responsibility
and adopt their rational as the basis for our conclusion  that  he  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.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented  did  not  demonstrate
the existence of an 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 14 August 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                  Mr. Joseph A. Roj, Panel Chair
                  Mr. Christopher Carey, Member
                  Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Member





The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR  Docket  Number  BC-
2003-03817 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 26 November 2002, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant,
                   dated 17 March 2003.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPD, dated 2 May 2003.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 27 June 2003.
   Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 July 2003.





                                JOSEPH A. ROJ
                                Panel Chair