RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01742
            INDEX CODE:  110.02
            COUNSEL: NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  YES

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed to a one.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She believes she was misdiagnosed with  asthma.   Her  diagnosis  with
depression stemmed from an abusive relationship  and  the  abuser  was
subsequently  court-martialed  after   her   discharge   for   similar
incidents.  She felt her only way out of  this  situation  was  to  be
discharged from the Air Force.

Subsequent to her discharge, she has not been treated  for  either  of
these conditions.

In support of her request, the applicant submits a personal statement,
and copies of medical reports from civilian doctors.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force as an airman basic  on
27 December 1995 for a term of 4 years.  She was seen  at  the  mental
health clinic on 17  September  1996  for  three  to  four  months  of
depressed mood.  The initial diagnosis  included  dysthymia  disorder,
agoraphobia without panic disorder, and dependent personality  traits.
A follow-up evaluation on 19 September 1996 rendered  a  diagnosis  of
major  depression  vs.  dysthymia  and  she  was  treated   with   the
antidepressant medicine Prozac.  The applicant was hospitalized  at  a
civilian hospital psychiatry unit on 20 July 1998, due  to  depsession
with  suicidal  ideation.   Her  discharge  diagnosis  included  major
depression, recurrent, severe without psychotic features as manifested
by  recurrent  episodes  of  persistently  depressed  mood,   markedly
diminished interest or  pleasure  in  activities,  insomnia,  loss  of
energy, feelings of worthlessness, diminished ability to  concentrate,
recurrent thoughts of death and suicide with these symptoms not  being
due to the effects of a drug, medical  condition  or  bereavement  and
with these  symptoms  causing  clinically  significant  impairment  in
social and occupational functioning.   Her  medical  evaluation  board
considered a diagnosis of mild  intermittent  asthma.   On  30 October
1998, the Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IEPB) determined she was
unfit for duty due to  major  depression,  recurrent  associated  with
existing prior to service dysthymia, and mild asthma  and  recommended
discharge with severance pay.  On  10  November  1998,  the  applicant
agreed with the findings and recommendations of the  IPEB  and  waived
her right to a formal hearing.

On 12 January 1999, the applicant was discharged from the  Air  Force,
under the provision of AFI 36-3212, for a disability, (with  severance
pay).  She served 3 years and 16 days on active duty and  received  an
RE code of “2Q” “Personnel medically retired or discharged”.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends  denial.   The  applicant’s
history of recurrent major depression  requiring  hospitalization  was
clearly  disqualifying  for  continued  active  duty.    Psychological
testing during an asymptomatic period does not exclude a prior history
of depression or predict that depression will not occur in the future.
 Her reported history resolution  of  her  symptoms  once  eliminating
exposure  to  cat  dander  is  consistent  with  an  allergy  to  cats
predisposing  her  to  reactive  airways  disease.   Her  history   of
cigarette smoking no doubt contributed to her  recurrent  episodes  of
bronchitis with bronchospasm.  Medical standards  for  enlistment  and
for continued service indicate that “asthma, including reactive airway
disease,  exercise  induced  bronchospasm  or  asthmatic   bronchitis,
reliably diagnosed at any age” is disqualifying for enlistment.

The applicant’s experience while on active duty indicates that she  is
a higher risk for recurrent problems when subjected to the  rigors  of
military operational environments even though she is  currently  doing
well.  Regardless, her history of depression is  itself  disqualifying
for reenlistment.

Action  and  disposition  in  this  case  are  proper  and   equitable
reflecting compliance with Air Force  directives  that  implement  the
law.

The BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPAE recommends denial.  The RE code of 2Q, “Personnel medically
retired or discharged” is correct.  Waivers of RE codes for enlistment
are considered and approval based on the needs of


the respective military service and recruiting initiatives at the time
of the enlistment inquiry.

The DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
21 Nov 03, for review and comment within 30 days.  As  of  this  date,
this office has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS 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  an  error  or  injustice  to  warrant  changing  her
reenlistment eligibility (RE) code.  Evidence has not been provided in
support of her appeal, which would lead us to believe that a change to
her RE code is warranted.  Therefore, we agree with the  opinions  and
recommendations of the BCMR  Medical  Consultant  and  the  Air  Force
office of primary responsibility and  adopt  their  rationale  as  the
basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of
an error or  injustice.   Therefore,  in  the  absence  of  persuasive
evidence to the contrary, we find no  compelling  basis  to  recommend
granting the relief sought in this application.

4.  The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not  been
shown  that  a  personal  appearance  with  or  without  counsel  will
materially  add  to  our  understanding  of  the  issue(s)   involved.
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered.

___________________________________________________________________

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 Docket  Number  BC-2003-
01742 in Executive Session on 6 January 2004, under the provisions  of
AFI 36-2603:

                 Ms. Peggy E. Gordon, Panel Chair
                 Mr. James W. Russell III, Member
                 Mr. J. Dean Yount, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated Apr 03, w/atch.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 25 Aug 03.
      Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 6 Nov 03.
      Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Nov 03.




      PEGGY E. GORDON
      Panel Chair