RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01952
                       INDEX CODE:  110.00
                       COUNSEL:  NONE

                       HEARING DESIRED:  Yes, If
                                              necessary

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be  changed  to  allow  her  to
reenter military service.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her RE code is incorrect and needs to be changed.  She  was  separated
from active duty because of her knees.  Since her separation  she  has
seen several doctors and all reports and  exams  show  her  knees  are
normal.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 25  March  1998  for  a
period of four years.   The  applicant’s  career  field  was  aircraft
structural maintenance.

While in basic training the applicant  began  experiencing  knee  pain
whenever she stood or walked for any long period  of  time.   She  had
pain getting up and down from a seated position  and  walking  up  and
down stairs and inclines.  She was treated with  medication,  physical
therapy and placed on a physical profile.

On 7 October 1999, an Air Force  Form  422  (Physical  Profile  Serial
Report) was established placing the applicant on limited duty until  7
November 1999,  prohibiting  her  from  prolonged  walking,  standing,
squatting or climbing stairs.

On  4  November  1999,  the  applicant  was  placed  on  limited  duty
prohibiting  her  from  squatting,  kneeling,  prolonged  standing  or
walking until 1 January 2000.

On  7  January  2000,  the  applicant  was  placed  on  limited   duty
prohibiting  her  from  prolonged  standing  or  walking,   squatting,
crouching, or kneeling until 7 April 2000.

The 12 January 2000, The Review In Lieu of  Medical  Evaluation  Board
(MEB) Narrative Summary stated the applicant had a two-year history of
typical patellofemoral pain syndrome, which interfered with her duties
and  was  unresponsive  to  medication  and  physical  therapy.    The
recommendation of the Narrative Summary stated, “There is no operative
indication to  treat  this  patient.   Essentially  her  symptoms  are
directly related to work activity.  As  such,  the  treatment  or  the
solution that is recommended is to remove  her  from  the  environment
that is causing her symptoms to persist.  In other words, the  patient
needs to be in a work environment that  does  not  involve  crouching,
kneeling, or squatting.  The recommendation is (if the  Medical  Board
determines that she has sufficient retainability) to cross  train  her
into a work  type  that  does  not  involve  squatting,  kneeling,  or
crouching.  Otherwise, a  permanent  profile  change  to  limit  these
activities may be considered.”

The commander stated in his letter to the  Physical  Evaluation  Board
the applicant was assigned to less  strenuous  duties  which  did  not
require prolonged periods  of  standing,  walking  or  squatting.   He
further stated that the applicant could not be  deployed  due  to  her
chronic knee pain and that  other  members  of  the  unit  were  being
required to do her work in addition to theirs.

On 1 February 2000, the applicant underwent an MEB which established a
diagnosis of bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome since  1998.   The
MEB referred the applicant to the Informal Physical  Evaluation  Board
(IPEB).

On 22 February 2000, the IPEB convened and found the  applicant  unfit
for continued active duty due to her chronic knee pain and recommended
she be discharged with severance pay with  a  ten  percent  disability
rating.  The applicant concurred with the findings and recommendations
of the IPEB on 28 February 2000.

On  14  April  2000,  the  applicant  was  honorably  discharged  with
disability severance pay and a disability rating of ten percent.   She
served 2 years and 20 days of active service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  Chief  Medical  Consultant,  AFBCMR,  states  the  applicant  was
diagnosed with bilateral patellofemoral pain  syndrome  (chronic  knee
pain) which  interfered  with  her  ability  to  perform  her  duties.
Despite therapy for three months which included removal
from physically stressful duties, medication and physical therapy, the
applicant continued to experience pain.  Patellofemoral pain  syndrome
is a common one that can be due to predisposing factors  in  the  knee
that can (but not in all cases) include degenerative processes of  the
joint or  abnormal  tracking  of  the  patella  (knee  cap).   In  the
applicant’s case, no abnormality was demonstrated.  The  knee  may  be
previously  asymptomatic  or  mildly   symptomatic   or   can   become
symptomatic with the rigors of military training and duties.  In  most
cases, this condition  in  the  absence  of  significant  predisposing
factors responds to rest,  medication  and  physical  therapy.   After
three months of therapy the applicant  was  still  experiencing  pain,
which rendered her unfit for continued  military  service.   The  fact
that the applicant appears to be doing well now does not  exclude  the
possibility of her knee pain reccurring  if  she  is  exposed  to  the
rigors of a military environment.  Patellofemoral pain  syndrome  that
was unresponsive to medication, rest and  physical  therapy  is  at  a
greater risk for recurrence.   The  Air  Force  can  not  guarantee  a
sedentary occupation and even those members in  sedentary  occupations
are often required to deploy and  perform  vigorous  activities.   The
Medical Consultant, based on the evidence provided, recommends denying
the requested relief.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the  applicant  on
14 November 2003, for review  and  response.   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 not timely filed;  however,  it  is  in  the
interest of justice to excuse the failure of timely file.

3.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of error or injustice.  After careful  consideration  of
the circumstances of this case and the evidence of record, we are  not
persuaded that the discharge action  and  the  resulting  reenlistment
code she received were in error or unjust.  The applicant  experienced
knee problems, and was diagnosed with  bilateral  patellofemoral  pain
syndrome for which she was treated with medication,  physical  therapy
and placed on
several  physical  profiles.   After  three  months  of  therapy   she
continued to experience  knee  pain,  which  rendered  her  unfit  for
continued  military  service.   She  was  discharged  with  disability
separation pay.  Although, the applicant is doing well  now,  it  does
not exclude the possibility of recurrence of her knee pain if  she  is
returned to the rigors of a military environment.  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-
2003-01952  in  Executive  Session  on  13  January  2004,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                        Ms. Charlene Bradley, Panel Chair
                        Ms. Olga M. Crerar, Member
                        Mr. Christopher Carey, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 28 May 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated
               29 Oct 03.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Nov 03.




                       CHARLENE BRADLEY
                       Panel Chair