RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-00201
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her records be changed to show she was discharged for medical reasons,
rather than administratively.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She developed depression while on active duty  and  should  have  been
disability discharged, not administratively discharged.  The narrative
reason for discharge (personality disorder) on her  DD  Form  214  has
prevented her from obtaining  employment  with  state  government  and
large employers.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a  personal  statement,  a
copy of her DD Form 293, a copy of her DD Form  214,  and  a  copy  of
documentation from  a  4-7  January  2004  hospitalization  for  major
depressive   disorder   with   psychosis   (manifested   by   auditory
hallucinations).

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on  24  July  1997  for  a
period of four years.

A  command-directed   mental   health   evaluation   resulted   in   a
recommendation for administrative  separation  due  to  unsuitability.
The mental health report, dated 16 September 1998, rendered  diagnoses
of  Adjustment  Disorder  with   depressed   mood   and   Narcissistic
Personality Disorder (principle diagnosis).

On 7 October 1998, the applicant’s commander notified the applicant he
was recommending her discharge from the United States  Air  Force  for
Mental Disorders.  The applicant  was  further  advised  an  honorable
discharge would be recommended.  The applicant acknowledged receipt of
the notification and her understanding of her rights.   On  7  October
1998, the applicant submitted a statement indicating  she  waived  her
right to consult with counsel and her right to  submit  statements  in
her own behalf.  In  a  legal  review  of  the  discharge  case  file,
undated,  the  Staff  Judge  Advocate  found  the  case  file  legally
sufficient  and  recommended  the  letter   directing   applicant   be
discharged from the Air Force  with  an  honorable  discharge  without
probation and rehabilitation be  signed.   On  22  October  1998,  the
discharge authority approved the  recommendation  for  separation  and
directed that the applicant be honorably discharged without the  offer
of  probation  and  rehabilitation.   The  applicant   was   honorably
discharged on 26 October 1998 under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,
because of a personality disorder.  She served one year, three  months
and three days on active duty.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant states the applicant developed symptoms of
depressed mood in a setting of multiple stressors, including newly  in
the Air Force in a  job  she  did  not  like,  financial  difficulties
(compounded by living off-base,  unemployed  husband),  new  marriage,
recent  arrival  of  a  second  child  and  assignment   in   England.
Evaluation by mental health rendered diagnoses of Adjustment  Disorder
with  Depressed  Mood  and  Narcissistic  Personality  Disorder.   The
Personality Disorder diagnosis was  determined  to  be  the  principle
diagnosis and the main underlying reason the applicant was  unable  to
cope with the numerous stressors and  developed  the  depressed  mood.
Evidence of the record  shows  that  the  applicant’s  depressed  mood
resolved by the time of her separation, consistent with her  diagnosis
of Adjustment Disorder.   However,  a  Personality  Disorder  and  the
attendant  predisposition  for  recurrent  problems  do  not  resolve.
Following discharge, the applicant experienced recurrent  symptoms  of
depression and developed Major Depressive Disorder with  psychosis  in
January 2004, five years after her discharge.

Under Title 10,  only  disabilities  that  cause  the  termination  of
military service can be rated and compensated, and then only  for  the
degree of impairment at the time of separation and not based on future
events.  At the time of her discharge, the applicant did not  manifest
mental illness that warranted referral into the disability  evaluation
system.  Personality Disorder and Adjustment Disorder are  “unsuiting”
conditions that are not ratable or compensable under the rules of  the
disability system.  Even if the  applicant’s  Adjustment  Disorder  in
retrospect  represented  manifestation   of   her   subsequent   Major
Depressive Disorder, it was not sufficiently severe enough to  warrant
diagnosis as an unfitting condition warranting disability evaluation.

The records also indicate that the applicant experienced  symptoms  of
depression with suicidal thinking  and  behaviors  prior  to  entering
service.  The  mental  health  clinic  entry  dated  9 September  1998
recorded a history of a pre-service suicide attempt with  Valium,  and
the 8 January 2004 DVA psychiatry examination recorded  a  history  of
symptoms going back 16 years.  Under the rules of the  DoD  disability
system, existing prior  to  service  conditions  are  not  ratable  or
compensable unless there has been permanent service aggravation beyond
the nature course of the condition.  There is no evidence that service
permanently aggravated her condition, and at the time  of  separation,
the applicant was feeling well in response to the relief  of  some  of
the stressors causing her depressed mood.

Action  and  disposition  in  this  care  are  proper  and   equitable
reflecting compliance with Air Force  directives  that  implement  the
law.

The BCMR Medical Consultant is of the opinion that no  change  in  the
records is warranted.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 27 September 2004, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded
to the applicant for review and response within 30 days.  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.   We  took  notice  of   the
applicant's complete submission in judging the  merits  of  the  case;
however, we agree with the opinions and  recommendation  of  the  BCMR
Medical Consultant and adopt  his  rationale  as  the  basis  for  the
conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an  error  or
injustice.  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  this  application  in
Executive Session on 2 December 2004, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                       Ms. Marilyn M. Thomas, Vice Chair
                       Ms. B.J. White-Olson, Member
                       Mr. Gregory A. Parker, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 Jan 04, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 23 Sep 04.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Oct 04.




                             MARILYN M. THOMAS
                             Vice Chair