RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2005-01695
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 2 November 2006
________________________________________________________________
_
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His records be changed to show disability retirement for post-
traumatic stress disorder.
________________________________________________________________
_
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was forced to take an AFM 35-4 discharge, which ended his
career.
In support of his application, applicant submits a personal
statement.
Applicant's complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit
A.
________________________________________________________________
_
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant served on active duty in the Army from 29 December
1958 to 27 October 1965 as a telephone installer/repairman.
After a two-year break in service, he entered the Air Force on
19 October 1967 and served as an aircraft mechanic. Service
medical records reflect marital problems, depressed mood and
suicidal ideation, diagnosed as depressive reaction, prompting
hospitalization on two occasions. At the time of the second
hospitalization, he underwent a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB)
to determine medical fitness for continued military duty. The
psychiatric evaluation concluded the applicants condition
impaired him for continued military service. On 31 August 1970,
the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) concluded his condition was
unfitting, with a compensable rating of 10 percent, and
recommended disability discharge with severance pay. On 4
September 1970, the applicant signed Air Force Form 1180 and
concurred with the findings and recommendation of the PEB. On 23
September 1970, he was discharged with severance pay (10
percent) with the diagnosis of depressive reaction. He served 9
years, 9 months and 4 days of active service.
The Department of Veterans Affairs records show that the
applicant was employed with AT&T electronics for 15 years
following separation and his service connected mental condition
was rated at zero percent. In 2003, he was diagnosed with post
traumatic stress disorder that the examiner opined the applicant
suffered from while on active duty.
_______________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The BCMR Medical Consultant is of the opinion that no change in
the records is warranted. The applicant manifested symptoms
diagnosed as depressive reaction that resulted in a finding of
unfit for continued military service and disability separation.
At the time in 1970, the diagnostic category post traumatic
stress disorder did not exist and was not listed in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders II (DSM
II), published in 1968. It was not until 1980, ten years later
with the publication of the DSM III that the diagnostic category
of post traumatic stress disorder was formalized as a standard
diagnosis in psychiatric practice. While in retrospect with
todays knowledge, a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder
may plausibly be applied to the applicants symptoms by using
editions of the DSM published decades later; there is no
evidence that he was improperly diagnosed at the time with the
facts as known and the then current standards of practice.
Regardless, a finding of unfit due to, mental disorders does not
require a precise diagnosis. An adjudication of a disability
rating for mental disorder under the VA Schedule for Rating
Disabilities is not based on a diagnosis, but rather on
assessments of impairment for civilian employment. The fact the
diagnosis may change over time following separation is not
evidence of an error of a finding of unfit or of the rating
assigned. Evidence of record indicates the applicant was
properly evaluated and rated and that he received full
consideration in the Air Force Disability Evaluation System
under applicable directions. Action and disposition in this
case are proper and reflect compliance with Air Force directives
which implement the law.
BCMR Medical Consultant's complete 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 13 June 2006 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 not timely filed; however, it is in the
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.
3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to
demonstrate the existence of an error or an injustice warranting
a change in the applicants records to show a disability
retirement for post traumatic stress disorder. The Board took
note that the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) determined the
member diagnosed depressive reaction impaired him for continued
military service and the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB)
concluded his condition was unfitting, with a compensable rating
of 10 percent, and recommended disability discharge with
severance pay. While it is plausible that a diagnosis of post
traumatic stress disorder may be applied to the applicants
symptoms developing during 1970 by using the current edition of
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorder, there
is no evidence that the applicant was improperly diagnosed at
the time with the facts then known and the contemporary
standards of practice. Therefore, we agree with the opinions
and recommendation of the BCMR 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, and, 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 a 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 Docket Number BC-
BC-2005-01695 in Executive Session on 11 July 2006, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2 May 2005, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 12 Jun 06.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 13 Jun 06.
Chair
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