RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2003-02893
INDEX CODE: 110.02, 108.10
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
Her medical conditions that were determined to have existed prior to
service (EPTS) be corrected to reflect that they were not EPTS.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
At no time prior to her service was she diagnosed with any of these
conditions. There were no signs or symptoms of these conditions until
diagnosed in the year 2002 and 2003 while serving in the Air Force.
In support of her submission, the applicant provided a copy of the Physical
Evaluation Board (PEB) findings and recommendations and documents extracted
from her medical records. Her complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant enlisted into the Regular Air Force on 18 October 2000 and
served as a Surgical Services Technician. In the fall of 2002, she
developed symptoms subsequently diagnosed as mild intermittent asthma, a
condition disqualifying for worldwide duty. She underwent a medical
evaluation board and on 19 June 2003, the Informal Physical Evaluation
Board (IPEB) found her unfit for continued military service due to asthma.
The IPEB identified the presence of other medical conditions (mitral valve
prolapse, a history of back pain, and a genetic deficiency of a clotting
factor (Factor V Leiden) that could be, but were not unfitting at the time
of her disposition, and also noted these conditions were EPTS. On 25 June
2003, the applicant concurred with the findings and recommendations of the
IPEB and was honorably discharged on 7 August 2003 with severance pay at
10%. She was credited with 2 years, 9 months and 20 days of active
military service.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial. The Medical Consultant
states that the applicant was disability discharged due to a diagnosis of
asthma. Her other medical conditions were not the reason she was referred
into the Disability Evaluation System and were not at the time of
disposition, unfitting for continued service. Two of her conditions are
genetic, development conditions that clearly existed prior to entering
service regardless of when the actual diagnosis was made. Her back pain
requiring treatment is a common condition experienced by many active duty
members and was not of a severity to warrant disability evaluation. The
history of a back injury in high school reported to her physician is why
the IPEB concluded her recurrent low back pain existed prior to service.
Regardless, the back pain was not the reason for her referral into the
Disability Evaluation System.
The DVA is chartered to offer compensation and care to all eligible
veterans for any service connected disease or injury without regard to
whether it was unfitting for continued military service. The DVA is also
empowered to reevaluate veterans periodically for the purpose of changing
their disability awards if their level of impairment varies over time.
The BCMR Medical Consultant's evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 6
February 2004 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this
office has received no response.
_________________________________________________________________
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. Evidence has not been presented which
would lead us to believe that the applicant's disability processing and the
rating she received at final disposition was contrary to the governing Air
Force instruction and the law. The opinion and recommendation of the BCMR
Medical Consultant appears to be based on the evidence of record and has
not been refuted by the applicant. Therefore, we adopt their rationale as
the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of
an error or injustice. 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-
02893 in Executive Session on 16 Mar 04, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:
Ms. Olga M. Crerar, Panel Chair
Mr. James W. Russell III, Member
Mr. James A. Wolfe, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 25 Aug 03.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, BCME Medical Consultant, dated 20 Jan 04.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Feb 04.
OLGA M. CRERAR
Panel Chair
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