RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-03989
                                       INDEX CODE:  108.00
      XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX                   COUNSEL: NONE

      XXXXXXXXX                         HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His  military  records   be   corrected   to   remove   the   diagnosis   of
schizophreniform disorder and to allow him to reenlist in the military.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His diagnosis  of  schizophreniform  disorder  is  false  and  unjust.   His
medical problems were as a result of an adverse reaction to  the  medication
albuterol.  All of his records beginning March 2000 should be  reviewed  for
malpractice due to a misdiagnosis.  He is too young for such a limiting  and
harmful ending to his career.  He feels he should be justly compensated  for
all the pain and suffering that he and his family have had  to  endure.   If
possible he would like to reenlist.

In support of his application, the applicant provides a  personal  statement
and  copies  of  his  of  his  Medical  Evaluation  Board  (MEB)   findings;
Psychiatric Temporary Disability Retirement List  (TDRL)  Summary;  Physical
Evaluation  Board  (PEB)  findings;  discharge  certificate;  DD  Form  214,
Certificate of Release or  Discharge  From  Active  Duty;  prescription  for
Albuterol;  and  an  article  on   inhalers   containing   Albuterol.    The
applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 1 April 1998, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force at the  age
of 18 in the grade of airman basic (E-1) for a period of four years.  On  18
September 1998, after completing basic training and technical training,  the
applicant  was  assigned  as  a  law   enforcement   apprentice.    He   was
progressively promoted to the grade of airman first  class  (E-3)  effective
and with a date of rank of 1 August 1999.

On 19 July 1999, his commander withdrew the applicant’s  authority  to  bear
and have access to firearms due to concern over the applicant’s mental  well
being.   On 18 October 1999, the applicant was approved for retraining  into
satellite and wideband communications equipment maintenance and repair.   On
20 March  2000,  while  attending  technical  training,  the  applicant  was
hospitalized for  psychiatric  evaluation  after  complaining  of  psychotic
symptoms  for  the  prior   three   months.    The   final   diagnosis   was
schizophreniform   disorder,   manifested    by    auditory    and    visual
hallucinations, delusions of thought insertion,  thought  broadcasting,  and
predicting   the   future.    Alternative   diagnoses   of    schizophrenia,
schizoaffective  disorder  and   schizotypal   personality   disorder   were
considered and discussed in the medical evaluation.

On 4 April 2000, the applicant’s records met an  MEB.   The  MEB  determined
the applicant’s condition did not exist prior to service  and  that  it  was
incurred  while  entitled  to  basic  pay.   The  MEB  findings  stated  the
applicant’s medical condition rendered him unqualified  for  worldwide  duty
and recommended his case be presented to the  Informal  Physical  Evaluation
Board (IPEB).  The IPEB findings, dated 24 April 2000, stated the  applicant
was unfit because of physical disability and recommended he  be  temporarily
retired with a 30%  compensable  rating.   The  applicant  agreed  with  the
findings and recommendation of the board and consequently, on 16  May  2000,
the Secretary of the Air Force directed the applicant’s name  be  placed  on
the TDRL under the provisions of 10 United States Code (USC), Section  1202.
 On 3 July 2000, the applicant was relieved from active duty and  placed  on
the TDRL with a compensable rating of 30% for physical disability  effective
4 July 2000.

On 2 July 2001 an IPEB reevaluated the applicant’s  condition.   The  IPEB’s
findings, dated 13 July 2001, noted that the applicant’s  condition  was  in
remission; however, it remained  markedly  impaired  for  military  service.
The IPEB recommended the applicant be  discharged  with  severance  pay  and
with a disability rating of 0%.  On 31 July 2001,  the  applicant  concurred
with the IPEB’s findings.  On 7 August 2001, the Secretary of the Air  Force
directed that the applicant’s name be  removed  from  the  TDRL  and  he  be
discharged with severance pay under the provisions of 10 USC 1203.

On 27 August 2001, the applicant’s name was removed from  the  TDRL  and  he
was discharged by  reason  of  physical  disability  per  AFI  36-3212  with
entitlement to disability severance pay.  He had  served  two  years,  three
months and three days on active duty.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant  is  of  the  opinion  that  no  change  in  the
applicant’s records is warranted.  The BCMR Medical Consultant  states  that
the  onset   of   the   applicant’s   symptoms   that   was   diagnosed   as
schizophreniform disorder was prior to his  prescription  for  an  Albuterol
inhaler.  In  addition,  Albuterol  inhalers  may  cause  symptoms  such  as
increased  irritability  and  nervousness  that  may  intensify  anxiety  in
existing   conditions;   however,   it   does   not   cause   psychosis   or
schizophreniform disorder.  It is  the  BCMR  Medical  Consultant’s  opinion
that  action  and  disposition  in  this  case  were  proper  and  equitable
reflecting compliance with Air Force  directives  that  implement  the  law.
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  15
June 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.  The record shows that  less  than  sixteen
months after the applicant’s enlistment,  he  was  decertified  to  carry  a
weapon due to Adjustment Disorder and subsequently was  approved  for  cross
training into another career field.   While  attending  technical  training,
the applicant was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation after  complaining
of psychotic symptoms.  The evaluation led  to  the  above-cited  diagnosis.
Applicant’s  assertions  were  thoroughly  reviewed  by  the  BCMR   Medical
Consultant and we concur with the  BCMR  Medical  Consultant’s  opinion  and
find the applicant has failed to sustain his burden for providing a  showing
of  error  or  injustice.   Accordingly,  the  applicant’s  request  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 this application in  Executive
Session on 11 August 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                 Ms. Martha J. Evans, Member
                 Ms. Martha A. Maust, Member

The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR  Docket  Number  BC-2003-03989
was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 21 Dec 03, with atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 7 Jun 04.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Jun 04.




                                   THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                   Chair