RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-02366
            INDEX CODE:  100.06
            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  No

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  1 FEB 06

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment eligibility (RE)  code  be  changed  so  he  will  be
eligible to enlist for active duty or Reserve status.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The Department of Veterans  Affairs  (DVA)  evaluation  found  nothing
wrong  with  him  and  he  has  had  no   recurrence   of   idiopathic
rhabdomyolysis, which prompted his medical  discharge  with  severance
pay in 2003.

[Note:  The AFBCMR Medical Consultant advises that  rhabdomyolysis  is
the abnormal, excessive breakdown of muscle  tissue.   Muscle  enzymes
are released into the blood stream, in particular myoglobin, that  can
result in renal failure and other complications.  Causes are variable,
including high levels of  exertion,  trauma,  infections,  drugs,  and
underlying  muscle  disease  (i.e.,   metabolic,   degenerative,   and
inflammatory disease  processes).   Heavy  exertion  in  hot  climatic
conditions that also results in dehydration and  possibly  electrolyte
depletion can cause this condition in otherwise normal individuals, as
well as in those predisposed to underlying muscle disease.  A  variety
of underlying diseases  of  muscle,  including  genetic  disorders  of
muscle metabolism,  muscle  function,  or  inflammatory  disease,  can
predispose to this condition.]

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is  at  Exhibit
A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant’s medical pre-screening evaluations on 9 Jul 99 reported
no abnormalities or conditions.  His Individual Assessment  Report  in
the USAF Fitness Program indicated  he  had  exceeded  the  Air  Force
aerobic fitness standard by one point.  On 23 Sep  99,  the  applicant
enlisted for four years in the Regular Air  Force  and  served  as  an
aerospace maintenance apprentice/journeyman.

On 17 Aug 01,  while  on  temporary  duty  (TDY),  the  applicant  was
admitted  to  the  Milford  Memorial  Hospital  in  Milford,  DE,  for
abdominal pain which increased with movement and activity.   The  pain
began after he had exercised three days  prior.   Two  days  prior  to
that, his urine had begun to turn brownish.  He had very  high  levels
of muscle enzyme in the blood and urine.  The applicant  was  admitted
for intravenous hydration to prevent kidney damage, and his  abdominal
pain resolved essentially after two days, and urinalysis  returned  to
normal.  The  diagnosis  was  rhabdomyolysis  and  the  applicant  was
discharged  on  22 Aug  01.   He  returned  to  normal  activities  in
approximately six weeks.

On 22 Apr 03, the applicant was found guilty of  disobeying  a  lawful
order, issued to him on 29 Jul 02,  forbidding  him  from  driving  on
Dover AFB, by driving on or about 7 Apr 03, in Eagle  Heights  Housing
Area, Dover AFB.  The applicant did not make a personal appearance but
submitted a written statement, but the commander  imposed  Article  15
punishment in the form of reduction from senior airman (SRA) to airman
first class (A1C), and 30 days correctional custody, deferred until 30
Apr 03.  The applicant’s appeal was denied.

In May 03, the applicant  experienced  a  milder  episode,  apparently
after running while TDY at Keesler AFB, MS, and was  hospitalized  for
treatment.  He underwent a comprehensive  evaluation  at  Walter  Reed
Army Medical Center, including a muscle biopsy, which failed  to  show
evidence of underlying muscle disease that  would  predispose  him  to
rhabdomyolysis.  He was placed on a  physical  profile  on  7 May  03,
restricting him from running, lifting  more  than  20  lbs,  prolonged
standing, frequent stair climbing, or physical training.

On 22 May 03, the commander found the applicant guilty of  dereliction
of duty in failing to comply with  Keesler  AFB  Correctional  Custody
Facility rules, between, on or about 1-5 May 03, and  for  failing  to
obey a lawful order to clean the bathroom floors on or about 9 May 03,
and imposed nonjudicial punishment in the form of reduction  from  A1C
to airman.  The applicant had submitted a written  statement  but  did
not request a personal appearance.  He did not appeal the Article 15.

A Narrative  Summary,  dated  17 Jul  03,  reported  no  one  had  yet
determined the cause of both episodes of  rhabdomyolysis,  which  were
considered idiopathic.  The  applicant’s  physical  exam  revealed  no
additional significant medical findings.  After a lengthy  discussion,
the applicant decided he did not wish to continue  with  his  military
career and would welcome separation.  The Summary  noted  that,  given
the past two episodes, it was highly  likely  there  would  be  future
episodes of rhabdomyolysis when he  was  physically  challenged.   The
applicant was continued on physical profile.

On 29 Jul 03, a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) referred the  applicant
to  an  Informal  Physical  Evaluation  Board  (IPEB)  for  idiopathic
rhabdomyolysis.

On 30 Jul 03, the commander provided his input to the MEB,  indicating
the applicant was not working in his primary Air Force Specialty  Code
(AFSC).  The profile restrictions prevented him from  working  a  full
shift, impaired his ability to perform his duties, and  precluded  his
deployment.   Further,  the  applicant  was  currently   awaiting   an
administrative  discharge  following   a   demonstrated   pattern   of
misconduct, pending the results of the MEB.  The commander recommended
the applicant be discharged without delay.

In a rebuttal dated  8 Aug  03,  the  applicant  advised  he  was  not
performing in his AFSC because of the idiopathic rhabdomyolysis, which
curtailed his correctional  custody.   He  countered  the  commander’s
claim that he was unable to work  a  full  shift  or  was  a  “problem
child.”  He accepted the fact that he was going to be discharged  from
the Air Force.

On 25 Aug 03, the IPEB found the applicant’s idiopathic rhabdomyolysis
unfitting with a disability rating of 10%.  Discharge  with  severance
pay was recommended.  The  applicant  agreed  with  the  findings  and
waived his right  to  a  Formal  PEB.   The  administrative  discharge
process against the applicant was terminated.

On 27 Oct 03, the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF)  Designee  directed
the applicant be discharged for physical disability with severance pay
in the grade of airman.

On 12 Dec 03, the applicant was honorably  discharged  for  disability
with 10% severance pay, after 4 years, 2 months and 20 days of  active
service.  He was issued  an  RE  code  of  “2Q”  (Personnel  medically
retired or discharged).

_________________________________________________________________

AFBCMR MEDICAL CONSULTANT EVALUATION:

The Medical Consultant provides details  of  the  applicant’s  medical
history.  He notes the underlying predisposing  reason  for  recurrent
rhabdomyolysis  remains  unexplained   in   many   individuals   after
appropriate clinical evaluation. Such individuals are asymptomatic  in
between episodes and may remain free of problems when not  exposed  to
triggering   conditions   (hence   the   applicant’s   negative    DVA
examination).  A single  episode  of  rhabdomyolysis  due  to  unusual
causes (extreme heat stress, trauma, serious illness) in  the  absence
of underlying muscle abnormalities or disease may not  necessarily  be
considered unfitting for continued  military  service.   However,  two
episodes occurring with exertion and conditions encountered  routinely
by  military  members  indicate  a  disqualifying  predisposition   to
recurrent episodes.  The recent normal  DVA  evaluation  confirms  the
evaluation performed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, but does  not
indicate the applicant will not experience recurrent  abnormal  muscle
breakdown, interfering with performance of duties.  A history of  even
a  single  episode  is  disqualifying  for  enlistment.   Action   and
disposition in this case were proper and equitable and  no  change  in
the records is warranted.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air  Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the
applicant on 10 Jun 06 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
evidence  of  record  and  the  applicant’s  submission,  we  are  not
persuaded his RE code should be changed to  allow  reenlistment.   The
applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, we do not find  these
assertions, in and by themselves, sufficiently persuasive to  override
the Medical Consultant’s assessment.  The DVA  evaluation  was  noted,
but it does not guarantee that the physical stress  of  military  duty
would not result in  the  applicant  experiencing  recurrent  abnormal
muscle breakdown.  We believe neither the applicant nor the Air  Force
should be exposed to this very real risk.  Further, as pointed out  by
the Medical  Consultant,  a  history  of  even  a  single  episode  is
disqualifying  for  enlistment.   We  therefore  adopt  the  rationale
expressed as the basis for our decision that  the  applicant  has  not
sustained his  burden  of  having  suffered  either  an  error  or  an
injustice.  In view of the above and absent persuasive evidence to the
contrary, we conclude this appeal should be denied.
_________________________________________________________________

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 26 Jul 05 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Michael J. Novel, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Janet I. Hassan, Member
                 Ms. Marcia Jane Bachman, Member

The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2004-02366 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 27 Jul 04, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 7 Jun 05.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Jun 05.




                                   MICHAEL J. NOVEL
                                   Panel Chair