RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  2003-00357
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her entry-level separation be changed to a medical discharge.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was separated from the Air Force due to asthma.

In support of her appeal, the applicant provided a copy of  a  Chronological
Record of Medical Care, dated 3 January 2003 and other documentation.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 17 December 2002, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force in  the
grade of airman basic for a period of six years.

Medical records reveal that on 18 December 2002, during basic training,  she
complained of chest pain.  Subsequent evaluation, including exercise  stress
testing by cardiology on 20 December 2002, did not disclose  a  clear  cause
for her chest pain and she  was  initially  diagnosed  with  musculoskeletal
chest wall pain.

On 28 December 2002 she presented to the clinic complaining of shortness  of
breath and chest pressure beginning when she  arrived  for  basic  training.
The  physician’s  note  indicates  that  the  patient  stated  she  has  had
“intermittent shortness of breath for years, mostly with exercise, but  also
at rest,” and an “unproductive cough with activity.”  A  family  history  of
asthma in her father and brother was indicated on the  clinical  note.   The
applicant underwent histamine bronchoprovocation testing on  3 January  2003
at which time it was determined she had mild intermittent asthma.

On 6 January 2003, the applicant was notified of her commander’s  intent  to
initiate discharge action against her for erroneous  enlistment  under  AFPD
36-32  and  AFI  36-3208,  Chapter  5,  Section  C,  Defective  Enlistments,
Paragraph 5.14.

The commander indicated in his recommendation for discharge action  that  he
received a medical narrative summary dated 3 January  2003  that  found  the
applicant did not meet minimum medical standards to enlist.  She should  not
have been allowed to join the Air Force because of  asthma.   The  commander
did not ask the Air Force to give her a disability  separation  because  the
medical staff found her unqualified.

The commander advised the applicant of her right to  consult  legal  counsel
and submit statements in her own behalf; or waive  the  above  rights  after
consulting with counsel.

On 6 January 2003, the applicant waived her right to consult counsel and  to
submit statements in her own behalf.

On 7 January 2003, the discharge authority approved the  applicant’s  entry-
level separation.

On  7  January  2003,  the  applicant  was  separated  with  an  entry-level
separation in the grade of airman basic, under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-
3208 (Failed Medical/Physical Procurement Standards).  She  served  21  days
of total active service.  She received an  RE  code  of  4C  (Separated  for
concealment  of  juvenile  records,  minority,  failure  to  meet   physical
standards for enlistment, failure to attain a 9.0  reading  grade  level  as
measured  by  the  Air  Force  Reading  Abilities  Test  (AFRAT),  or   void
enlistments).

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant  recommended  denial.   He  indicated  that  the
applicant was diagnosed with asthma that existed prior to service.  She  did
not have a diagnosis of asthma before entering  the  service  and  her  lung
exam was normal, her positive bronchoprovocation test is very  specific  for
diagnosing asthma and reactive airways disease  that  is  disqualifying  for
military  service.   The  applicant’s  asthma  based  on  accepted   medical
principles existed prior to service (EPTS).  Signs of  symptoms  of  chronic
disease identified so soon after the day of entry on military  service  that
the disease could not have originated in that short a period  of  time  will
be accepted as proof that the disease  manifested  prior  to  entrance  into
active military service.  In this case, asthma is  a  chronic  disease  that
could not have originated in the short time  the  applicant  was  on  active
duty.  Further  she  reported  a  history  of  symptoms  prior  to  entering
service, use of asthma medications after the age of  12  and  had  a  strong
family history of asthma.  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/DPPRS  recommended  denial.   They  indicated  that  based   upon   the
documentation in the file, they believe the discharge  was  consistent  with
the procedural and substantive requirements  of  the  discharge  regulation.
Additionally, the discharge was  within  the  discretion  of  the  discharge
authority.  The BCMR Medical Consultant discusses  the  medical  aspects  of
this case and is of the opinion that no change in the records is  warranted.
 Her uncharacterized character of service is correct and in accordance  with
Department of Defense and Air Force instructions.

The evaluation is at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 9 May 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.   After  reviewing  the  evidence  of
record, we are convinced that the applicant’s separation from the Air  Force
was in accordance with the prevailing regulation.  Her contention  that  she
should have been medically discharged due to asthma is  noted;  however,  in
our opinion, the detailed comments provided  by  the  AFBCMR  Chief  Medical
Consultant adequately address  these  allegations.   Therefore,  we  are  in
agreement  with  the  comments  and  recommendation  of  the  Chief  Medical
Consultant and adopt his rationale as the basis for our  decision  that  the
applicant has not been the victim of either an error or injustice.  In  view
of the above and in the absence of evidence to  the  contrary,  we  find  no
basis upon which to recommend favorable action on this application.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented  did  not  demonstrate
the existence of an error or an 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 AFBCMR Docket Number  BC-2003-
00357 in Executive Session on 10 July 2003, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                 Mr. Wayne R. Gracie, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Cheryl Jacobson, Member
                 Ms. Jean A. Reynolds, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 27 January 2003, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant,
                  dated 8 April 2003.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 1 May 2003.
   Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 May 2003.




                       WAYNE R. GRACIE
                       Panel Chair