RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBERS:  BC-2002-04051
            INDEX CODE 100.00  108.01
            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her reenlistment eligibility (RE) code of  “2Q”  (Personnel  medically
retired or discharged) be changed so that she may reenlist.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She is not medically unqualified to serve. The condition  causing  her
separation no longer exists. The Department of Veterans Affairs  (DVA)
found her condition 0% disabling. She passed the  physical  after  she
contacted the Air National Guard (ANG)  but  was  denied  reenlistment
because of her prior separation. She has spent over three years trying
to reenlist.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 2 Jul  97  and  was
assigned to McGuire AFB, NJ, as an aircrew life support apprentice  in
the grade of airman first class (A1C).

The applicant presented to the acute care clinic on  21  Feb  98  with
hives on her face after walking from a building to her car.  She  also
developed hives over her entire body whenever she worked on the flight
line. She was seen again on 24 Feb  98  after  eating  ice  cream  and
developing swelling of the tongue and lips, including perioral  hives.
As soon as her mouth was warmed, the hives started to dissipate. On 25
Feb 98, she was seen by the allergy  clinic  at  Walter  Reed  Medical
Center  (WRMC).  An  ice  test  was  positive  for  hives.  She  still
experienced some burning of the hands every  so  often  even  when  on
medication. Her  ice  test  at  WRMC  in  Apr  98  was  negative.  She
subsequently became pregnant  in  Jun  98  and  her  medications  were
discontinued.

A 27 Aug 98 Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) summary noted she had  been
asymptomatic for the past two months, even when eating cold items. The
diagnosis was cold-induced  urticaria  (hives).  The  MEB  recommended
that, if the applicant were  retained,  she  be  taken  off  worldwide
qualification and stationed at a base with warm climate.

On 11 Sep 98, an MEB convened and recommended referral to an  Informal
Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB) for cold-induced urticaria. The  IPEB
convened on 13 Oct 98 and recommended the applicant be discharged with
severance pay and a 10% disability  rating.  The  applicant  disagreed
with the findings and recommendations on 22 Oct  98  and  requested  a
Formal PEB (FPEB). The FPEB convened on 5 Nov  98  and  confirmed  the
IPEB’s findings and recommendations. The FPEB noted that, although the
applicant had missed no work per se,  she  was  unable  to  perform  a
sizable amount of her flight line duties during cold weather.  Certain
cold foods had caused symptoms in the past and she  had  to  carry  an
epipen. Her future assignments would have to be  severely  limited  to
warm climates only. Discharge with 10% severance pay for  cold-induced
urticaria was recommended. On 5 Nov 98, the applicant  disagreed  with
the FPEB’s conclusions.

The applicant submitted a rebuttal  and  her  supervisors  recommended
retention. Her case was forwarded to the Secretary of  the  Air  Force
Personnel Council (SAFPC) for consideration.

On 28 Dec 98, SAFPC noted the applicant’s contention to be returned to
duty; however, the medical evidence indicated her  condition  was  not
compatible with the  rigors  of  military  service.  Therefore,  SAFPC
concurred with the FPEB that her  condition  was  probably  permanent,
relatively stable with the present management  program  but  unfitting
for active military service.

As a result, the applicant was honorably discharged on 12  Mar  99  in
the grade of A1C for cold-induced urticaria  at  10%,  with  severance
pay, after 1 year, 8 months and 11 days of active service.

A 3 Dec 99 ice test conducted by a civilian  provider  concluded  that
her history of hives  was  resolved  and  there  was  no  evidence  of
urticaria. In a 7 Jun 00 letter, a civilian  physician  concluded  the
applicant’s condition was resolved as proven by an ice test.

DVA evaluations in Oct 99 and  Mar  01  awarded  0%  for  cold-induced
urticaria.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant  discussed  the  applicant’s  medical
situation and contended the evidence does not clearly demonstrate that
her condition was an isolated occurrence  in  Feb  98.  Unfortunately,
once demonstrating the condition,  she  is  at  risk  for  recurrence.
Because  of  the  unpredictable  risk  for  recurrence  and  for  life
threatening systemic  reactions,  the  applicant’s  history  of  cold-
induced  urticaria  is  disqualifying  for  reenlistment.  The  AFBCMR
Medical Consultant concludes the  appeal  should  be  denied,  but  he
suggests what the applicant could submit for reconsideration.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

HQ AFPC/DPPAE advised that the applicant’s RE code is correct.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant responded with a personal statement and  a  letter  from
her primary care physician, a  captain  at  McConnell  AFB,  KS.   She
asserts she did not have a recurrence since the outbreaks in  Feb  98.
She has not been on medication since Jun 98.  She  is  willing  to  go
through  more  tests  if  necessary.  She  believes  she  was  wrongly
separated and wants a chance to serve her country by rejoining the Air
Force.

The physician indicates the  applicant  was  tested  for  cold-induced
histamine response in Oct 99 and in Sep 03. Both tests  were  negative
for any cold urticaria  symptoms.  Further,  she  has  lived  in  cold
climates, gone swimming, eaten frozen foods, etc.,  without  incident.
As the local allergy extender at McConnell AFB, the  physician  cannot
find  any  evidence  the  applicant  continues  to  suffer  from  cold
urticaria.

The applicant’s complete response, with attachment, 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.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the existence  of  error  or  injustice  to  warrant  partial  relief.
Although not specified, we assume the applicant wants an RE code  that
confers immediate reenlistment eligibility. The evidence she submitted
in her rebuttal appears to indicate she may no longer suffer from cold
urticaria. However, since the AFBCMR Medical Consultant  advises  that
this condition could be subject to recurrence, we  believe  a  prudent
solution would be to award the applicant  a  waiverable  code,  rather
than one that allows immediate reenlistment. In  other  words,  an  RE
code from the “3” series would permit her to apply for enlistment and,
should she prove to be free of this condition and medically fit,  have
desirable skills and be otherwise acceptable, the Reserves  may  elect
to waive her ineligibility and allow her to reenlist.  Whether or  not
she is successful will depend on the needs of  the  service,  and  the
Board’s recommendation in no way guarantees that she will  be  allowed
to reenter the armed services. Therefore,  the  Board  recommends  her
reenlistment code be changed to “3K.”

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that, in conjunction  with
her  honorable  discharge  on  12  March  1999,  she  was   issued   a
reenlistment eligibility code of “3K,” rather than “2Q.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 2 October 2003 under the provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                 Mr. Wayne R. Gracie, Panel Chair
                 Mr. Laurence M. Groner, Member
                 Mr. J. Dean Yount, Member

The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2002-04051 was considered:

   Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 31 Jul 02 (received 23 Dec 02),
                    w/atchs.
   Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 16 Jun 03.
   Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAE, dated 13 Aug 03.
   Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Aug 03.
   Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 24 Sep 03, w/atch.




                                   WAYNE R. GRACIE
                                   Panel Chair




AFBCMR BC-2002-04051




MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

      Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air
Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority
of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is
directed that:

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to    , be corrected to show that, in conjunction with
her honorable discharge on 12 March 1999, she was issued a
reenlistment eligibility code of “3K,” rather than “2Q.”





   JOE G. LINEBERGER

   Director

   Air Force Review Boards Agency