RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBERS:  BC-2003-00377
            INDEX CODE 108.01  108.10
            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records reflect service-connected disability  for  Post-Traumatic-
Stress Disorder (PTSD).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Active military service and  additional  duties  and  responsibilities
inflicted physical and  mental  health  burdens  on  him.  His  entire
military records should be reviewed, not just his performance reports.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 18  Jan  73  for  a
period of four years.

He was assigned to the XXX Communications Squadron (XX CS)  in  Aviano
AB, Italy, as the squadron administrative specialist. His  performance
reports reflect he  worked  overtime  eliminating  a  large  inherited
backlog  due  to  the  extended  hospitalization   of   the   previous
specialist. He controlled classified and  unclassified  documents  and
files and typed performance reports for  all  assigned  personnel.  He
also achieved his  five-skill  level  and  completed  three  hours  of
college courses. He was then assigned to the  XXth  Civil  Engineering
Flight (XX CEF), also at Aviano AB.  As  the  squadron  administrative
specialist, he maintained the unit forms, records, files,  sponsorship
program, meal card control, suspenses, and reference library. A 27 Jan
75 career counseling record indicated he was satisfied  with  the  Air
Force but did not like his career  field  as  it  did  not  offer  the
desired challenge and opportunity for advancement.

Around 19 Nov 75, the applicant  was  assigned  to  the  XXXX  Support
Squadron (XXXX SS) at Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO as the MAJCOM  microfilm
clerk. His 29 Jun  76  performance  report  reflected  he  received  a
considerable amount of technical training  on  complex  equipment  and
procedures in support of micrographic service. The report  also  noted
the applicant completed several courses to broaden his education,  but
recommended he be assigned to base level administration where he could
broaden his knowledge of administration.

On 19 Aug 76, the applicant requested early release  effective  17 Oct
76 so he could return to school. He had already applied for  and  been
accepted for enrollment as a freshman at  the  Missouri  Institute  of
Technology. His request was granted and, after 3 years, 8  months  and
28 days of active service, he was honorably discharged in the grade of
sergeant on 15 Oct 76.

His   military   medical   records,   including   entries   from   the
hospital/dispensary in Aviano, report  numerous  shaving  waivers  for
pseudofolliculitis  barbae  and  various  minor  acute  illnesses  and
musculoskeletal injuries (right knee and large toe).  In  Aug  73,  he
sprained his right knee playing basketball and was seen intermittently
for persistent pain into Mar 74. He was treated in Feb 76 for a  small
scalp laceration incurred in a fall while playing basketball.  In  his
24 Sep 76 separation exam, he indicated his health was good,  with  no
medication, and he checked “yes” to “depression or  excessive  worry.”
The physician  noted  a  history  of  frequent  trouble  sleeping  and
depression since going overseas, but  no  treatment  was  sought.  The
available  medical  entries  contain  no  references  to   psychiatric
complaints or significant physical or emotional traumatic events.

In Mar 80, the applicant requested information from the Department  of
Veterans Affairs (DVA) with regard to a disability claim  for  a  “leg
condition” treated in Aug  73  in  Aviano.  No  other  information  is
available until a 1 Apr 02 DVA rating,  which  denied  his  claim  for
psychiatric disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder). He apparently  had
been denied such a claim on 31 Oct 01.  Outpatient  treatment  reports
from a Jackson MS VA Medical Center for the period  6  Jul-12  Oct  01
advised the  applicant  reported  sleeping  well  and  having  a  good
appetite; diagnosis was bipolar disorder. The DVA concluded there  was
no objective clinical evidence of a chronic  neuropsychiatric  disease
during his service or of a compensable psychosis within  one  year  of
discharge.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant  notes  that  at  the  time  of   the
applicant’s separation medical exam he reported symptoms  of  frequent
trouble sleeping and depression since going  overseas  but  had  never
sought treatment, indicating the symptoms were  mild.  These  symptoms
did not interfere  with  duty  performance  and  the  medical  records
reflected ongoing participation in leisure activities. The absence  of
any listed claim for psychiatric condition with his 1980 DVA claim for
right knee  injury  suggests  the  applicant  had  not  yet  developed
significant symptoms of his subsequently diagnosed  bipolar  disorder.
The DVA, as of Apr 02, has denied the applicant service connection for
neuropsychiatric disease. Disability compensation from the  Air  Force
is not warranted. A physical defect or condition must  not  merely  be
present but must render members unfit for duty  and  cut  short  their
military career. There is no evidence of a diagnosis of  PTSD  in  the
available  records  or  that  while  in  the  service  the   applicant
participated in combat or experienced a  significant  traumatic  event
that can be directly linked  to  any  subsequent  diagnosis  of  PTSD.
Denial is recommended.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

HQ AFPC/DPPD contends that neither the applicant’s service records nor
his evaluation by the DVA reflects any physical  or  traumatic  events
occurred during his  active  duty  that  would  justify  granting  his
request. They agree with the AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant’s  evaluation
and recommendation that the appeal be denied.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant asserts the advisory opinions were incomplete and  would
not allow an unbiased favorable decision. He had many other  stressful
duties, especially in  Aviano  AB,  Italy.  He  wants  all  supporting
documents obtained from Air Defense Command,  14th  Air  Force,  NATO,
USAFE, and XXth Communications Squadron.

A complete copy of the applicant’s 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 not timely filed;  however,  it  is  in  the
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of error or  injustice  warranting  a  service-connected
disability  for  PTSD.  The  applicant  has  not  submitted,  and  his
available records have not revealed, convincing evidence that  he  was
traumatized by his military service, responsibilities or  duties.  The
applicant’s documented medical issues while in the  service  were  not
unfitting or indicative  of  neuropsychiatric  disease.  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 his 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 28 October 2003 under the provisions of  AFI  36-
2603:

                 Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Sharon B. Seymour, Member
                 Ms. Leslie E. Abbott, Member

The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2003-00377 was considered:

  Exhibit A.  DD Form 149s (2), dated 31 Jan & 4 Feb 03.
  Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
  Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 16 Jul 03.
  Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPD, dated 10 Sep 03.
  Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Sep 03.
  Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 6 Oct 03.




                                   RICHARD A. PETERSON
                                   Panel Chair