RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-02132
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED: No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Narrative Reason for Separation on her DD Form 214 be changed from
Personality Disorder.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was misdiagnosed by military physicians.  The military  physicians
diagnosed her as having a Personality  Disorder.   The  Department  of
Veterans Affairs physicians diagnosed her symptoms as Graves’ Disease.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 21 February 2001 for  a
period of six years as an airman.

A mental health evaluation report  dated  29  July  2001,  states  the
applicant was  first  seen  in  the  Life  Skills  Support  Center  on
24 October 2001, for  feelings  of  hopelessness,  anxiety,  decreased
sleep, concentration  and  appetite.   The  applicant  associated  her
symptoms with the recent deployment of her boyfriend and  two  friends
and her own upcoming deployment.  She was diagnosed with an Adjustment
Disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed  mood.   The  applicant  was
removed from deployment and treated with therapy  and  medication  and
many of her acute symptoms resolved.  In March 2002, she  was  removed
from profile and returned to World Wide Qualified (WWQ)  status.   The
applicant was deployed in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF),
however, she returned early from OEF due to feelings  of  hopelessness
and depression, frequent tearfulness, and difficulties with  sleeping,
concentration and appetite.

On 6 August 2002, the applicant was informed of her commander’s intent
to recommend her for discharge for a condition  that  interferes  with
military service (mental disorder).

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

The commander indicated in his  recommendation  for  discharge  action
that if his recommendation was approved, the applicant's service would
be characterized as honorable.

On 7 August 2002, after consulting with counsel, applicant waived  her
right to submit a statement.

A legal review was conducted on 7 August  2002,  in  which  the  staff
judge advocate (SJA) recommended the applicant be discharged  with  an
honorable discharge.

On 15 August 2002, the Discharge Authority approved  and  ordered  the
applicant be discharged with an honorable discharge without  probation
and rehabilitation.

The applicant was discharged on 16 August 2002, in the grade of airman
first class with an honorable discharge.  She served 1 year, 5  months
and 26 days of active duty service.

Upon application to the Department  of  Veterans  Affairs  (DVA),  the
applicant was awarded on 29 May 2003, a combined disability rating  of
40 percent for service connected Irritable Bowel Syndrome (30 percent)
and Graves’ Disease (an autoimmune  disorder  that  presents  with  an
overproduction of thyroid hormone leading  to  hyperthyroidism,  which
can aggravate other preexisting mental health conditions (10 percent).
 The DVA rating decision further  indicated  that  the  mental  health
examiner found no current evidence  of  a  mental  condition  and  the
applicant’s symptoms while on active duty were due to Graves’ Disease.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  Chief  Medical  Consultant,  AFBCMR,  states  the  applicant  was
discharged for unsuitability due to a personality disorder.   However,
a year after being discharged she was diagnosed with  Graves’  Disease
by the DVA.  In  March  2002,  the  applicant’s  physician  noted  the
applicant’s thyroid gland was slightly enlarged and she reported areas
of skin de-pigmentation.  The appropriate  screening  blood  test  was
ordered but the results are not in the  applicant’s  medical  records.
The applicant did not present with the typical signs and  symptoms  of
hyperthyroidism while on active duty such as, unexplained rapid  heart
rate, fever and weight loss.  In fact,  she  experienced  constipation
when the typical symptom of hyperthyroidism is increased frequency  of
bowel movements.  The Medical Consultant further states based  on  the
preponderance of evidence evaluated by the DVA, it is likely that  the
applicant was experiencing the effects of  Graves’  Disease  while  on
active duty which may have contributed to her emotional state.   Given
that there were signs of Graves’ Disease when she was diagnosed with a
Personality Disorder in 2002, and her  initial  duty  performance  was
excellent, the validity of her diagnosis of  personality  disorder  is
questionable.    Therefore,   Medical   Consultant   recommends    the
applicant’s  narrative  reason  for   separation   be   changed   from
Personality Disorder to Secretarial Authority.

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

HQ AFPC/DPPRS states based on the  documentation  in  the  applicant’s
master  personnel  file,  her  discharge  was  consistent   with   the
procedural and substantive requirements of the  discharge  regulation.
AFPC/DPPRS further states if the Board decides to grant the  requested
relief the  applicant’s  separation  code  and  narrative  reason  for
separation should be changed from Personality Disorder to  Secretarial
Authority with a separation program designator code of KFF.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
19 December 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 timely filed.

3.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to  demonstrate
the  existence  of  error  or  injustice  to  warrant  changing   the
applicant’s  narrative  reason  for  separation.   The  Board,  after
carefully reviewing this application, agrees with  the  opinions  and
recommendations of the Air Force and the  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant
that it appears the applicant was experiencing the effects of Graves’
disease while on active  duty  which  contributed  to  her  emotional
state.  The applicant’s records indicate she  graduated  with  honors
from BMT and her initial duty performance was excellent.   Therefore,
the Board believes the  validity  of  the  diagnosis  of  Personality
Disorder is questionable and that it would be an  injustice  for  the
applicant to continue  to  suffer  the  adverse  effects  of  such  a
characterization.  Accordingly, we  recommend  that  her  records  be
corrected to the extent indicated below.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show the narrative  reason  for
separation, issued in conjunction with her honorable discharge  on  16
August 2002, was “Secretarial Authority” and  the  Separation  Program
Designator (SPD) code was “KFF.”
_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2003-02132 in  Executive  Session  on  10  February  2004,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. Roscoe Hinton, Jr., Panel Chair
                       Ms. Sharon B. Seymour, Member
                       Mr. Garry G. Sauner, Member

All  members  voted  to  correct  the  records  as  recommended.   The
following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 18 Jun 03, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated
                 19 Nov 03.
      Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPRS, dated 16 Dec 03.
      Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Dec 03.




                       ROSCOE HINTON, JR.
                       Panel Chair








AFBCMR BC-2003-02132
INDEX CODE:  110.00


MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

      Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air
Force Board for Correction for Military Records and under the
authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat
116) it is directed that:

      The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to                   , be corrected to show the
narrative reason for separation, issued in conjunction with her
honorable discharge on 16 August 2002, was “Secretarial Authority”
and the Separation Program Designator (SPD) code was “KFF.”




                             JOE G. LINEBERGER
                             Director
                             Air Force Review Boards Agency