RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-02411
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED: Yes

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment code be changed from a “2” to a “1” to allow  him  to
reenter the Air Force.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He believes his medical condition did not hinder him  from  doing  his
job.  He further states his medical discharge was questionable and his
documentation should prove the board’s actions were unjust.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 20 August 1997, the applicant enlisted in the  Regular  Air  Force.
He served as a Munitions Systems Journeyman.

The applicant, while on active duty, was  diagnosed  and  treated  for
allergic rhinitis, high blood pressure, low back pain, bronchitis, and
reactive airway disease.  Also, while in basic training the  applicant
began experiencing skin problems.  On 28 August 1997, a medical report
documented care for a rash  involving  his  face,  scalp,  axilla  and
elbows and recorded the applicant had a  similar  rash  when  younger.
The applicant was seen again on 15 October 1997 for an itchy  rash  on
his neck, arms and legs.  He was also seen on 22 October  1997  for  a
rash on his scalp.  The medical record entry states “scalp  with  rash
since  BMT…Hx  of  eczema/allergic  dermatitis.”   The  applicant  was
diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis.  He continued to have  recurring
skin problems and  was  diagnosed  with  psoriasis  and  treated  with
topical medication.  A Preventive Health Assessment  dated  21  August
1998, recorded a history of “Psoriasis,  7-8  years.”   The  applicant
began  experiencing  nail  dystrophy  and  pain  stiffness  which   is
associated with severe psoriasis.  He began mexthotrexate (a cytotoxic
immunosupressant medication) in November 2001, but he did not continue
his treatment.  In March 2002, methotrexate treatment was reinitiated.
 By September 2002, his skin disease had  some  improvement  with  the
mexthotrexate treatments, but he continued to  experience  lesions  on
his torso.  Due to the severity  of  the  applicant’s  condition,  his
dermatologist initiated a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB).  In the  MEB
narrative, dated 27 June 2002, the dermatologist noted  the  onset  of
the applicant’s skin disease as 1998 and  before  1998  the  applicant
reported minor redness  and  flaking  of  face  and  scalp  which  was
diagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis.  The dermatologist also noted  the
applicant’s condition worsened in 1999.  The  dermatologist  concluded
the  applicant  was  suffering  from  “Severe  psoriasis”,  that   was
responding well to methotrexate and recommended the applicant continue
in his current occupation, and that he had not been  impaired  by  his
skin disease even when it was at its worse, and was under  control  on
the methotrexate.  He  further  stated  no  physical  limitations  was
expected due to the applicant’s current level of skin disease although
there was a ten percent chance of the applicant  developing  arthritis
in the setting of severe psoriasis at some point in  the  future.   He
further recommended the applicant be stationed where he could  receive
dermatologic evaluation given the seriousness of his psoriasis and its
treatment with a systemic medication.  Otherwise, no limitations  were
recommended.  The MEB referred the case  to  the  Physical  Evaluation
Board (PEB) in September 2002.  In a letter, dated 27 September  2002,
to the PEB, the applicant’s commander stated the applicant’s condition
had  no  impact  on  his  duty  performance.   The  Informal  Physical
Evaluation Board (IPEB) on, 11 October 2002, found the applicant unfit
for continued military service and recommended he be  discharged  with
severance pay with a ten percent disability  rating.   The  basis  for
their  decision  was  the  applicant’s  medical  condition   was   not
compatible with the rigors of military  service  as  evidence  by  the
requirement  for  high  dose   medication   and   complications   with
treatment/exacerbation of his condition  in  a  deployed  environment.
The applicant concurred with findings and recommendation of  the  IPEB
on 22 October 2002.

Applicant was honorably discharged on 27 December 2002, with severance
pay with a disability rating of 10 percent.   He  served  five  years,
four months and eight days of active service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief Medical Consultant, AFBCMR, states psoriasis or  a  verified
history of psoriasis is disqualifying for entry in  military  service.
The applicant’s history of skin problems during basic training and the
references to skin disease prior  to  his  entry  on  active  duty  is
consistent with  a  conclusion  of  skin  disease  existing  prior  to
service.  In accordance to AFI 48-123, paragraph A2.16.18, the medical
standards for continued military service indicate  psoriasis  that  is
only  controllable  with  “potent  cytotoxic  agents”  is  potentially
disqualifying for continued service.   The  IPEB  concluded  that  the
applicant’s severe skin disease  combined  with  the  requirement  for
methotrexate and access to  specialty  care  rendered  him  unfit  for
continued  military  service.   And,  although   the   applicant   was
performing his  duties,  the  PEB  determined  his  chronic  condition
represented a medical risk if he remained on active duty and that  his
condition  imposed  unreasonable  requirements  on  the  military   to
maintain and protect the applicant.  Furthermore, if  the  applicant’s
RE code were changed, he would not meet the medical standards required
for reenlistment.  Therefore, based on  the  rationale  provided,  the
Medical Consultant recommends the requested relief be denied.

A 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 9
January 2004, 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.    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  provided  by  the
applicant, we are not persuaded the reenlistment code he received  was
in error or unjust.  Applicant’s contentions are duly noted;  however,
we agree with the opinion and recommendation  of  the  AFBCMR  Medical
Consultant and adopt his rationale as the  basis  for  our  conclusion
that the applicant has not been the victim of an error  or  injustice.
Psoriasis or a verified history of the skin disease  is  disqualifying
for entry into military  service.   We  note  based  on  the  evidence
provided the applicant had a history of  the  skin  disease  prior  to
entering the  Air  Force.   Furthermore,  the  medical  standards  for
continued military service indicate psoriasis that is controlled  with
potent cytotoxic agents is  potentially  disqualifying  for  continued
service.  Therefore, in view of  the  above  and  in  the  absence  of
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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2003-02411  in  Executive  Session  on  11  February  2004  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                       Ms. Ann-Cecile McDermott, Member
                       Mr. Leslie E. Abbott, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 Jul 03.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 5 Dec 03.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 9 Jan 04.




                             THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                             Chair