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AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2004-00378
Original file (BC-2004-00378.DOC) Auto-classification: Denied

                            RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-00378
            INDEX CODE:  108.07
            COUNSEL:  NONE
XXXXXXX
            HEARING DESIRED:  NO
XXXXXXX

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  10 Aug 05

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His service-connected medical condition, inflammation of sciatic  nerve  for
lower and upper extremities, be assessed  as  combat  related  in  order  to
qualify for  compensation  under  the  Combat-Related  Special  Compensation
(CRSC) Act.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

As a nuclear weapons technician  he  participated  in  countless  war  games
which involved his handling of nuclear weapons.  Since a nuclear  weapon  is
a weapon of war, his medical condition should be considered combat related.

His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant contracted his initial enlistment in the Regular Air  Force  on  1
October 1961.   He  was  progressively  promoted  to  the  grade  of  master
sergeant.  He served as a  nuclear  weapons  technician,  munitions  systems
technician, and a general accounting  specialist.   He  voluntarily  retired
from the Air Force on 1 November 1981, having served  24  years,  2  months,
and 11 days on active duty.

His CRSC application was disapproved on 15 October 2003, based on  the  fact
that his service-connected  medical  condition  was  determined  not  to  be
combat related.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPD recommends denial and states, in part, that the fact a member  may
have incurred  a  medical  condition  during  a  period  of  war,  or  while
participating in  combat  operation/training  exercises  is  not  sufficient
evidence to support a combat-related determination.  Military  records  must
show a definite causal relationship  between  the  armed  conflict  and  the
medical conditions.  Applicant’s military records fail  to  show  a  combat-
related connection/hazardous service or presumptive of toxic  chemicals  for
his disabilities.

The AFPC/DPPD evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Although he has never been  in  actual  combat,  the  law  states  that  his
disability  could  be  caused  by  participation  in  war  games  or  by  an
instrumentality of war and  still  qualify  for  CRSC  compensation.   As  a
nuclear weapons technician, he was required to  participate  in  war  games.
Further a  nuclear  weapon  meets  the  criteria  to  be  classified  as  an
instrumentality of war.

In further support of the appeal,  applicant  submits  a  statement  from  a
civilian physician indicating  that  applicant’s  medical  problems  may  be
directly related to his exposure to metals and aliphatic chemicals while  on
active duty.

Applicant’s complete response, with attachment, is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

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 a thorough review of  the  available
evidence of record, it is our opinion  that  the  service-connected  medical
condition the applicant believes is combat related was not incurred  as  the
direct result of armed conflict, while engaged in hazardous service, in  the
performance  of  duty  under   conditions   simulating   war,   through   an
instrumentality of war, or presumptive of toxic  chemicals,  and  therefore,
does not qualify for compensation under the CRSC Act.   We  agree  with  the
opinion  and  recommendation  of   the   Air   Force   office   of   primary
responsibility and adopt its 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-2004-
00378 in Executive Session on 6 April 2005, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                 Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                 Mr. Michael V. Barbino, Member
                 Ms. Martha A. Maust, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 2 Feb 04, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPD, dated 28 Apr 04.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 May 04.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, dated 17 May 04, w/atch.




                                   THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                   Chair

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