RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBERS:  BC-2002-03829
            INDEX CODE 108.01  108.10
            COUNSEL: American Legion

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her records reflect her medical condition had  not  existed  prior  to
service (EPTS).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her disability occurred while she was entitled to basic pay.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted for four years in the Regular Air  Force  on  7
Jun 00 in the grade of airman first class. She was assigned as a space
systems operator to the 2nd Space Warning Squadron at Buckley AFB, CO.

The performance report for 7 Jun 00 through  28  Feb  02  reflects  an
overall rating of “5.”

A 4 Mar  02  evaluation  by  a  civilian  university  hospital  center
indicated the applicant  was  referred  for  an  evaluation  regarding
chronic pelvic pain which caused her  to  miss  work  frequently.  Her
condition  appeared  to  be  exacerbated  by  stress.  The   applicant
indicated she had been  psychologically  evaluated  in  May  01  after
experiencing a “nervous breakdown” in response to various stressors at
the  time.  The  applicant  acknowledged  a  history  of   problematic
depression over the past  three  years,  with  a  shorter  history  of
impulsive behavior. She also revealed she experienced anxiety,  anger,
and insomnia. The psychologist suggested therapy and consideration  to
rule out major depressive disorder vs. atypical bipolar disorder.

A follow-up entry dated 11 Mar 02 noted the  applicant’s  pain  issues
seemed related to significant periods of  emotional  stress  over  the
past two years involving the dissolution of  a  brief  marriage,  high
work stress, significant weight loss, marked family  dysfunction,  and
financial stress related to her marriage. Her  history  of  anger  and
impulsivity  included  hitting  when  angry,  anorexia,  and   general
inability to  co-exist  with  work  supervisors.  Her  description  of
herself as a “control junkie” was at odds  with  the  military,  which
offered her little specific control over her own activities. The entry
noted that on 11 Dec  01,  she  had  been  diagnosed  with  adjustment
disorder. The applicant acknowledged  persistent  depression  for  the
past four years, reporting that she felt lonely  and  despondent  when
she perceived her relationship with her adoptive parents  was  falling
apart several years ago.

Medical entries of 18-10 Mar 02 from the civilian university  hospital
center advised that the applicant’s capacity for  physical  complaints
to be greatly exacerbated following periods of psychological  distress
needed to be consistently addressed.  Anger,  anxiety  and  depression
were  all  apparent  and  prognosis  for  long-term  improvement   was
guardedly optimistic so long as the applicant remained in therapy  and
adhered to treatment recommendations for an active, distracting coping
regimen.

An aerospace medicine clinic evaluation dated 27 May 02 noted that the
applicant’s history of chronic pain for several years was moderate and
controlled until recently when she moved to Buckley AFB.  Since  then,
she saw a dramatic increase  in  the  severity  and  duration  of  her
exacerbations. The applicant had been pulled from her  space  operator
duties and was working half-days at the  Family  Support  Center.  The
applicant reported a  small  improvement  in  the  new  location,  but
significant  problems  relating  to  workload  stress   and   personal
interaction with the staff. She apparently was  evaluated  extensively
by obstetrics and urology, which confirmed a diagnosis of interstitial
cystitis. No clear physiologic cause of her intense and incapacitating
pain has been identified, although she had  a  very  small  amount  of
pelvic adhesions and tiny amounts  of  endometriosis  in  the  pelvis,
which may have caused some contributing discomfort. The applicant  did
have a medical history of menstrual cramps,  recurrent  urinary  tract
infections including hemorrhagic cystitis and urethritis as well as  a
sub-acute pelvic infection thought to be present for three years prior
to treatment. Psychiatric diagnosis included adjustment disorder  with
mixed anxiety and depressed mood, narcissistic personality traits  and
inclined to depressive  moods,  uncontrollable  anger  and  agitation.
Bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder had not been ruled out.
A Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) was recommended as the applicant  was
incompatible with military service and worldwide duty.  Her  prognosis
was expected to improve when she was no longer in  a  controlling  and
stressful environment.

A military psychiatrist presented a 25 Jun 02  narrative  summary  for
the MEB, noting that the pelvic pain seemed clearly linked to the mood
symptoms; exacerbation of the anxiety and  depressive  disorders  (not
otherwise specified - NOS) seemed to worsen the pelvic pain  and  vice
versa. The depressive symptoms started in Nov 00.  Continued  military
service appeared to be aggravating  all  three  of  these  conditions.
Discharge was recommended to remove a potential source of  stress  and
allow the applicant to possibly recover in a nonmilitary environment.

An MEB convened on 19 Jul 02 and referred the applicant to an Informal
Physical  Evaluation  Board  (IPEB)  for  chronic  pelvic   pain   and
depression. The MEB indicated the conditions had  not  EPTS  and  were
incurred while entitled to basic pay.

However, the IPEB convened on 2 Aug 02 and determined  the  depression
and chronic pelvic pain had EPTS and were not  permanently  aggravated
by service. Her problems were incompatible with military  service  and
her  past  medical  history  included  a   variety   of   pelvic   and
gynecological conditions that were estimated to be present  for  three
years and would likely be the source of her pelvic pain. The IPEB also
noted the  applicant’s  four-year  history  of  depression.  The  IPEB
recommended discharge under provisions other than  Chapter  61,  Title
10, USC (EPTS unfitting condition, without compensation).

On 12 Aug 02, the  applicant  agreed  with  the  IPEB’s  findings  and
recommendations and waived her right to a formal  hearing.  On  13 Aug
02, the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF), acting through the Air Force
Personnel  Council,  directed  the  applicant’s   discharge,   without
benefits, for EPTS physical disability.

The applicant was discharged on 18 Oct 02 with 2 years, 4  months  and
11 days of active service.

She currently has a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) rating of 10%
for mood disorder.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant notes that, although the  MEB  indicated
the applicant’s conditions had not EPTS, the IPEB concluded otherwise.
The Consultant gives a detailed medical history on the  applicant  and
notes that, contrary to many  active  duty  members  who  may  develop
anxiety and  depression,  the  applicant  showed  little  response  to
therapy over a prolonged period of  time.  This  was  consistent  with
complicating lifelong maladaptive  personality  traits.  The  civilian
psychologist clearly documented symptoms of a reported  duration  that
placed onset prior to entry into the Air Force. Medical evaluation  of
her pelvic pain did reveal some abnormalities that are associated with
pain; however, these findings typically are associated with discomfort
that  is  not  incapacitating  and  would  not  interfere   with   the
performance of duty. The applicant’s mild pelvic conditions had  EPTS.
The disposition of the case was proper and denial is recommended.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

HQ AFPC/DPPD agrees that the medical aspects of this case are  clearly
outlined in the Medical Consultant’s advisory and they  wholeheartedly
agree with his comments and determination that the application  should
be denied.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Counsel advised that the Department  of  Veterans  Affairs  awarded  a
service-connected rating of 10% for depressive and anxiety  disorders,
NOS.  Counsel contends that the applicant’s records should be  changed
to show the disability did not EPTS.

Counsel’s complete response is at Exhibit F.

_________________________________________________________________

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. After a thorough  review  of  the
evidence of record and the  applicant’s  submission,  we  believe  her
records  accurately  reflect  her  medical  conditions  as  EPTS.  The
applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, we do not find  these
assertions, in and by themselves, sufficiently persuasive to  override
the rationale provided by the Air Force.  In  this  regard,  the  IPEB
noted the applicant’s past  medical  history  included  a  variety  of
pelvic and gynecological conditions estimated to have been present for
three years and likely to be the source of her pelvic  pain.  Further,
the applicant divulged a four-year history of depression.  This  would
place the onset of these problems before the applicant joined the  Air
Force. Additionally, both the civilian psychologist and the Air  Force
psychiatrist concluded that the military environment  was  a  stressor
aggravating the applicant’s symptoms and  opined  that,  once  removed
from that environment, her symptoms would improve. This  suggests  the
situational and transient nature of her symptoms in response  to  that
stressor and that her EPTS conditions were not permanently  aggravated
by military service. We therefore agree with  the  recommendations  of
the Air Force and adopt the rationale expressed as the basis  for  our
decision that the applicant has failed to sustain her burden of having
suffered
either an error or an injustice. In  view  of  the  above  and  absent
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 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 30 July 2003 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Roscoe Hinton, Jr. Panel Chair
                 Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Member
                 Ms. Cheryl Jacobson, Member

The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2002-03829 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 12 Nov 02, w/atch.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 2 Apr 03.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPD, dated 10 Jun 03.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 11 Jun 03.
   Exhibit F.  Letter, American Legion, dated 1 Jul 03.




                                   ROSCOE HINTON, JR.
                                   Panel Chair