RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-02986
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  26 MARCH 2006

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her records be corrected to show that her  disability  did  not  exist
prior to service.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

There was no hospitalization before entering the military.  The  entry
on her separation document showing no severance pay is erroneous.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits her DD Form 293 and a copy
of her DD Form 214.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 12 December 1989 for  a
period of four years.   She  completed  basic  military  training  and
entered technical training in the air traffic  control  career  field.
She was hospitalized on 27 February 1990 after two weeks of increasing
symptoms diagnosed as bipolar disorder  without  a  prior  history  of
psychiatric illness.  She was referred into the disability  evaluation
system.  On 9 March 1990, a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) convened to
consider the case.   The MEB rendered an Axis I Diagnosis  of  Bipolar
Disorder,  Manic,  DSM-III-R  296.42,  moderate,  acute,  improved  on
medications.  The MEB determined the  onset  for  this  condition  was
February 1990.   The  MEB  also  rendered  an  Axis  II  diagnosis  of
Streptococcal  pharyngitis,  an  Axis  IV  diagnosis  of  Severity  of
Psychosocial Stressors: Code 3, moderate, and an Axis V  diagnosis  of
global Assessment of Function Scale “Currently 50.”  The MEB found the
Axis I condition was incurred while entitled to basic pay and did  not
exist prior to service.  It was recommended the case be forwarded  for
review by a Physical Evaluation Board (PEB).   The  Informal  Physical
Evaluation Board (IPEB) was convened on 22 March  1990  and  concluded
her  condition,  Bipolar  Disorder,  manic,  moderate,   acute,   with
considerable impairment of social and industrial adaptability, existed
prior to service  without  service  aggravation  and  recommended  the
applicant be discharged with severance pay.

Applicant agreed with the findings and recommendations of the IPEB, on
26 March 1990.  On 30 March 1990,  the  Secretary  of  the  Air  Force
determined the applicant was physically unfit for  continued  military
service due to a physical disability which existed prior  to  military
service and directed she be discharged  without  disability  benefits,
effective 19 April 1990.

Applicant was discharged from the Air Force on 19 April 1990 under the
provisions  of  AFR  35-4,  Disability  Existed  Prior  to  Service-No
Severance, with an honorable discharge.  She had  served  four  months
and  eight  days  on  active  duty.   Following  her  discharge,   the
Department of Veterans Affairs  denied  service  connected  disability
compensation  for  her  bipolar  disorder  (Rating  Decision  dated  4
September 1990).

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR  Medical  Consultant  states  that  evidence  of  the  record
indicates that the applicant reportedly did  not  experience  symptoms
prior to entering the service but manifested the condition  less  than
three months after entering  active  duty.   Bipolar  Disorder  is  an
illness characterized by periods  of  sustained  disruption  of  mood,
associated with distortions of perception,  somatic  functioning,  and
impairment in social functioning.  Bipolar disorder  is  considered  a
biologically based neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by episodic
perturbations in numerous neurotransmitter systems possibly related to
subtle  changes  in  brainstem  structures.   There  is  a  hereditary
predisposition (multiple genes, more complex than merely presence of a
family history) for the condition and the age of  onset  is  typically
between 15 and 30 years of age.  The mood disorder includes periods of
mania, a state of elevated, expansive, or irritable  mood  lasting  at
least a week, and periods of depressed mood or even episodes of  major
depression  and  is  classified  according  to  the  predominant  mood
pattern.  Manic episodes are characterized by  inflated  self  esteem,
decreased need for sleep, excessive talkativeness, racing of thoughts,
increased goal directed activity, easy distractibility, and  excessive
pursuit of pleasurable activities without the normal  regard  for  the
consequences of excess  (spending  money,  sexual  encounters,  etc.).
Bipolar disorder is a  chronic  illness  that  often  evolves  over  a
prolonged period of time (months, years) before diagnosis,  is  marked
by a course of relapses and remissions, is frequently associated  with
substance abuse, with a high rate  of  suicide  attempt  (25-50%)  and
successful suicide (15%).  Prior to treatment  with  mood  stabilizing
medications, individuals with this disorder experienced four  episodes
over 10 years however treatment with medication significantly  reduces
the frequency and severity of episodes.  The majority  of  individuals
with Bipolar Disorder return  to  a  fully  functional  level  between
episodes, however, some display inter-episode recovery.

Department of Defense disability evaluation policy  at  the  time  (as
now) states that manifestations of  lesions  or  symptoms  of  chronic
disease from date of entry, or so close to the date that  the  disease
could not have originated in so short a  period  (usually  180  days),
will be accepted as proof (by preponderance of evidence  and  accepted
medical  principles)  that  the  disease  existed  prior  to  service.
Bipolar disorder manifesting within 180 days of  entry  is  considered
existing prior to service based on accepted medical  principles  of  a
biologic basis of the  disease  and  the  marked  chronic  nature  and
prolonged insidious onset of the condition.

Action  and  disposition  in  this  case  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 at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 3 August 2005, 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 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  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  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 8 September 2005, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:

                       Mr. Michael J. Novel, Panel Chair
                       Mr. Terry L. Scott, Member
                       Ms. Cheryl V. Jacobson, Member

The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket  Number
BC-2004-02986 was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 15 Sep 04, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 1 Aug 05.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 Aug 05.




                             MICHAEL J. NOVEL
                             Panel Chair