RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01236
                       INDEX CODE:  100.00
                       COUNSEL:  None

                       HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her diagnosis of Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder at the  time  of
her disability discharge be changed  to  herniated  lumbar  discs  and
cervical spine degenerative disease.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her medical  condition  did  not  occur  prior  to  entering  military
service.  She was diagnosed and discharged with  Somatoform  Disorder,
when in fact she had two herniated discs.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 4 October  2000  for  a
period of six years as an airman basic.

The applicant completed Basic Military Training (BMT), however, during
her first week of technical training, the applicant reported the onset
of pain.  During November-December 2000, the applicant developed right
foot tingling and pain, and pain in both legs up  to  her  knees.   In
April-May 2001,  the  applicant  was  experiencing  severe  pain  that
prohibited her from performing her duties.  She reported pain  of  the
low back in the lateral lumbar area,  hips,  anterior  thighs,  knees,
calves, ankles, the right side of the neck  -  trapezius  muscle,  and
left shoulder.  The applicant could not perform normal activities  due
to the pain she was experiencing.  In  May  2001,  the  applicant  was
bedridden due to complaints of  pain.   During  an  examination  by  a
neurologist at Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC), the applicant, even
with a light touch, experienced pain so  severe  she  could  not  hold
herself up and cried.  She also reported she suffered  from  headaches
with blurred vision,  blurred  vision  and  pain  in  the  right  eye,
intermittent tremor and shaking throughout her entire body, right face
pain, sensation of swelling of  the  right  side  of  the  tongue  and
throat, intermittent difficulty with word formation,  chest  pain  and
palpitations, itching of her back,  arms  and  neck,  heavy  and  weak
feeling of her arms,  difficulty  catching  her  breath,  episodes  of
burning and redness of her hands, difficulty with  urination  control,
swollen lymph nodes, red spots on her skin and muscle spasms.

The applicant underwent extensive medical evaluations at Sheppard AFB,
Baylor  University  and  WHMC.   The  Baylor   University   evaluation
concluded with a diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome, rule out  organic
versus Somatization syndrome.  The WHMC evaluation  concluded  with  a
diagnosis of undifferentiated  somatoform  disorder.   Two  Air  Force
psychiatrists concluded her condition existed prior to  service.   The
applicant underwent a Medical Evaluation Board on 5  June  2001.   Her
case was forwarded to the Informal Physical Evaluation  Board  (IPEB).
On 13 June 2001, the IPEB found the applicant was unfit for  continued
military  service  due   to   existing   prior   to   service   (EPTS)
undifferentiated  somatoform  disorder  (with  social  and  industrial
adaptability impairment with a disability  rating  of  30  percent/not
applicable) and recommended the applicant be  discharged  under  other
than Chapter 61.  The applicant nonconcurred with the IPEB’s  findings
on 18 June 2001 and  requested  a  Formal  Physical  Evaluation  Board
(FPEB).  On 12 July 2001, the FPEB concurred  with  the  findings  and
recommendations of IPEB.  On 12 July  2001,  the  applicant  disagreed
with the findings and recommendations of the FPEB.  On 18  July  2001,
the applicant declined  to  submit  statements  in  her  behalf.   The
applicant’s case was forwarded to the Secretary of the  Air  Personnel
Council (SAFPC) for final determination.  On 26 July 2001,  the  SAFPC
determined the applicant was physically unfit for  continued  military
service due to a physical disability which existed  prior  to  service
and directed she be separated without disability benefits.

On 7 September 2001, the applicant was honorably discharged under  the
provisions of AFI 36-3212, Disability, existed prior to service,  PEB.
The applicant served 11 months and 4 days of active military service.

Upon application to the Department  of  Veterans  Affairs  (DVA),  the
applicant was awarded a  20  percent  disability  rating  for  service
connected disability for lower back and neck disability.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR STAFF EVALUATION:

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant  states  that  within  three  months  of
entering active duty, the applicant developed a  variety  of  symptoms
that interfered with her duty performance.   After  extensive  medical
evaluation at three  different  medical  facilities,  the  applicant’s
condition remained unexplained.  The applicant was  diagnosed  by  two
psychiatrists with undifferentiated somatoform disorder because of its
onset so soon after entering active duty.  It was  further  determined
that her condition existed  prior  to  service  based  on  established
psychiatric  medical  principles.    According   to   DOD   disability
evaluation policy, signs or symptoms of chronic disease identified  so
soon after the day of entry on active military service (usually within
180 days) the disease could not have originated in that short a period
would be accepted as proof the disease manifested  prior  to  entering
active military service.  Somatoform disorder is  considered  to  have
its basis in long standing difficulty with  emotion  expression  where
symptoms of pain and other physical symptoms become the equivalent  of
an emotion.  The stress of military service  or  other  stressors  can
bring out previously  mild  or  asymptomatic  conditions.   Somatoform
disorder  symptoms  usually  resolve  with  the  resolution   of   the
particular  stressor  and  military  service  is   not   expected   to
permanently  aggravate  the  condition.   The  DVA   rating   decision
submitted by the applicant does not  mention  psychiatric  illness  or
physical  complaints  other  than  neck  and   back   suggesting   the
applicant’s symptoms improved after she separated.

The findings in the  cervical,  thoracic,  and  lumbar  spine  on  the
imaging studies showed mild degenerative disc disease, mild scoliosis,
and bulging/small herniated L4-5 and L5-S1 discs do  not  explain  the
applicant’s symptoms and degree of disability while  on  active  duty.
Scoliosis  is  a  developmental   condition   that   develops   during
adolescence and  not  on  active  duty.   The  described  degenerative
changes in the spine, typically take longer than the  period  of  time
between entry onto active duty and the dates of the  imaging  studies.
The bulging disc could have occurred while on active  duty,  but  were
demonstrated to not be impinging on any neural structure  by  magnetic
resonance imaging  (MRI)  and  normal  electromyogram/nerve  condition
velocity testing (EMG/NCV).  There is no medical relationship  between
her bulging lumbar discs and her myriad, widespread  symptoms.   These
findings are common in  asymptomatic  populations  and  do  not  cause
disability.

The AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant,  based  on  the  evidence  presented,
recommends denying the applicant’s request.

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

HQ AFPC/DPPD states the purpose of the military disability  evaluation
system (DES) is to maintain a fit and vital  force  by  separating  or
retiring members who are unable to perform the duties of their office,
grade, rank or rating.  The members who are separated or  retired  for
reason of a physical disability may be eligible for certain disability
compensation.  The Medical Evaluation Board (MEB)  determines  if  the
servicemember should be processed through the DES  when  a  member  is
determined to be disqualified for  continued  military  service.   The
medical  treatment  facility  that  provides  health   care   to   the
sevicemember makes the decision whether or not to conduct an MEB.

The disability processing records indicate the applicant  was  treated
fairly throughout  her  DES  process  and  was  properly  rated  under
disability laws and policy at the time of her medical discharge.  DPPD
concurs with the Medical Consultant’s deposition  of  the  applicant’s
case and, based on the evidence submitted, they recommend denying  the
requested relief (Exhibit D).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR STAFF EVALUATION:

On 30 January 2004, 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 error or injustice.  Applicant’s contentions are duly
noted; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of  the
Air Force and adopt their rationale as the basis  for  our  conclusion
that the applicant has not been the victim of an error  or  injustice.
Shortly after entering active duty, the applicant  began  experiencing
mild to severe  pain  throughout  her  body.   She  underwent  several
medical evaluations at military and civilian  medical  facilities  and
was  diagnosed  with  undifferentiated   somatoform   disorder.    The
applicant was also evaluated by two Air Force psychiatrists  and  they
determined the applicant’s condition existed prior  to  service.   The
applicant’s  case  was  processed  through  the   medical   disability
evaluation system and it  was  determined  the  applicant’s  condition
rendered her unfit for continued military service  and  the  condition
existed prior to her entering active  duty.   The  applicant  has  not
established  that  she  was  not  properly  evaluated  by   the   DES.
Therefore, in the absence of evidence to  the  contrary,  we  find  no
compelling basis to recommend  granting  the  relief  sought  in  this
application.

_________________________________________________________________

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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2003-01236 in Executive Session on 10 March 2004, under the provisions
of AFI 36-2603:

                 Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Ann-Cecile M. McDermott, Member
                 Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Member


The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 13 Feb 03, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR, Medical Consultant, dated
                       22 Oct 03.
      Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPD, dated 20 Jan 04.
      Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 30 Jan 04.




                             BRENDA L. ROMINE
                             Panel Chair