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AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2004-00389
Original file (BC-2004-00389.DOC) Auto-classification: Denied

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-00389
            INDEX CODE:  108.07
            COUNSEL:  DVA

            HEARING DESIRED:  YES

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His service-connected  medical  conditions,  traumatic  arthritis  and  back
strain, be assessed as combat related in order to qualify  for  compensation
under the Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) Act.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Applicant makes no contentions.

In support of his request applicant provided documentation  associated  with
his application for CRSC compensation and a payment voucher.   His  complete
submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant served in the United States Navy from 7 Aug 52 through 6  Aug  56.
He contracted his initial enlistment in the Regular Air Force on 12 Sep  56.
 He was progressively promoted to  the  grade  of  master  sergeant,  having
assumed that grade effective and with a date  of  rank  of  1  May  73.   He
voluntarily retired from the Air Force on 30 Sep 78.   He  served  26  years
and 19 days on active duty.

His CRSC application was disapproved on 7 Jun 04 based upon  the  fact  that
his service connected medical conditions were determined not  to  be  combat
related.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPPD recommends denial.  DPPD states a review of his  service  and  DVA
medical records show that his traumatic arthritis and back  strain  are  not
combat related.  He stated in his original application that he  injured  his
knee  while  running  for  a  bunker  during  a  VC  attack.   There  is  no
corroborating documentation of the incident  or  any  injuries  suffered  in
that incident included in any of the documents  received.   He  injured  his
left knee on 31 May 62 while playing softball.  He  stated  he  injured  his
back while loading patients.  Lifting or loading, the direct  cause  of  his
back strain, is not considered to be combat related.   The  DPPD  evaluation
is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the  applicant  and
counsel on 25 Jun 04 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.  After a thorough review of  the  available
evidence of record, it is our opinion  that  the  service-connected  medical
conditions the applicant believes are combat-related were  not  incurred  as
the direct result of armed conflict, while engaged in hazardous service,  in
the performance of duty under  conditions  simulating  war,  or  through  an
instrumentality of war, and  therefore,  do  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.

4.  The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been  shown
that a personal appearance with or without counsel will  materially  add  to
our understanding of the issues involved.   Therefore,  the  request  for  a
hearing 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 AFBCMR Docket Number  BC-2004-
00389 in Executive Session on 23 Feb 05, 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, not dated, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPD, dated 18 Jun 04.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Jun 04.




                                   THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                   Chair

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