RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-03733
                                       INDEX CODE:  112.10
      XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX                COUNSEL: NONE

      XXXXXXXXXXXX                           HEARING DESIRED:  NO


MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  11 June 2006


______________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her reenlistment eligibility  (RE)  code,  separation  code,  and  narrative
reason for separation be changed to enable her to reenter the military.

______________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her medical condition was misdiagnosed.  The symptoms she  experienced  were
due to a rash, an ovarian cyst, and appendicitis, not bipolar disorder.

In support of her application, the applicant provided a personal  statement;
a copy of her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge  from  Active
Duty; a copy of her Informal Physical  Evaluation  Board  (IPEB)  evaluation
and findings; medical reports; Department of Veterans Affairs  (DVA)  rating
decision;  and  several  reference  letters.    The   applicant’s   complete
submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

______________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 26 April 2000, the applicant enlisted in the Regular  Air  Force  at  the
age of 19 in the grade of airman basic (E-1) for a  period  of  four  years.
Following  her  successful  completion  of  basic  military  training,   the
applicant  was  trained  as  a  Security   Forces   Apprentice.    She   was
progressively promoted to the grade of airman first class (E-2) with a  date
of rank of 9 June 2000.

In January 2002, the applicant was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder based  on
active symptoms consistent with mania.  The diagnosis was confirmed by  both
a civilian psychiatrist and a Navy psychiatrist.   On  26  April  2002,  her
commander recommended the applicant be separated from service based  on  her
long-term medical condition because she was unable to perform her duties  as
a security forces member and could not deploy.

On 29 April 2002, the applicant’s records met  a  Medical  Evaluation  Board
(MEB).  The MEB diagnosed the applicant  with  Bipolar  I  Disorder,  recent
manic episode, moderate; determined the applicant’s condition  was  incurred
while in the line of duty and entitled to basic pay, and referred  her  case
for presentation to the Informal  Physical  Evaluation  Board  (IPEB).   The
IPEB findings, dated 8 May 2002, stated the applicant was unfit  because  of
physical disability incurred in the line of duty and  recommended  discharge
with severance pay with a disability rating of 10% in  accordance  with  DoD
and VASRD guidelines.  On  10  May  2002,  the  applicant  agreed  with  the
findings and recommendation of the board and consequently, on 20  May  2002,
the Secretary of the Air Force approved the recommendation of the  IPEB  and
directed she be discharged with severance pay and a  separation  code  “JFL”
(disability, severance pay).

On 28 June 2002, the applicant was honorably discharged with an RE  code  of
2Q, (Personnel medically retired or discharged), a separation code  of  JFL,
and a narrative reason for separation of  disability,  severance  pay.   She
had served two years, two  months  and  three  days  on  active  duty.   The
applicant received separation pay in the amount of $5,541.60.

A DVA Rating Decision, dated  19  September  2002,  denied  the  applicant’s
claim for service connection for  Bipolar  Disorder  because  there  was  no
evidence of a current condition.

______________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant  is  of  the  opinion  that  no  change  in  the
applicant’s records is warranted.  The BCMR Medical Consultant  states  that
review of the applicant’s medical records finds  no  temporal  link  of  her
skin or abdominal condition to the onset or severity  of  her  psychological
symptoms.  Evidence of record clearly  supports  the  diagnosis  of  Bipolar
Disorder  Type  I  rendered  by  an  Air  Force  psychologist,  a   civilian
psychiatrist, and a Navy psychiatrist.  Bipolar  Disorder  is  disqualifying
for entry into military service, continued military service and for  reentry
into military service even if in remission.  The  fact  that  she  is  doing
well now does not prove she did not experience mental illness  characterized
by mania consistent with the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder.

It is the BCMR Medical Consultant’s opinion that action and  disposition  in
this case are proper and equitable  reflecting  compliance  with  Air  Force
directives  that  implement  the  law.   The   BCMR   Medical   Consultant’s
evaluation is at Exhibit C.

______________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In spite of the Air Force advisory opinion, she still contends she does  not
have Bipolar Disorder and the symptoms  she  was  having,  while  on  active
duty, were due to the  abdominal  problems  she  was  having.   She  is  not
blaming the military in any way for not giving her the proper treatment  and
not diagnosing her physical problem before it became a major  problem.   She
just wants her military record corrected so she can have the opportunity  to
serve her country again.  The applicant’s rebuttal is at Exhibit D.

______________________________________________________________

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 probable error or injustice.  Evidence has  not  been  provided
which would lead us  to  believe  the  applicant  was  improperly  separated
because  of  physical  disability.   The  record  clearly  shows  that   her
separation  had  its  basis  in  symptoms  that  created  sufficient   doubt
concerning  her  fitness  for  duty  to   warrant   disability   processing.
Following a medical workup and reviews by the Medical Board  and  the  IPEB,
it was determined that she was unfit to perform her duties.   As  a  result,
her separation for disability was  required  by  the  governing  regulation,
which implements the law.  Accordingly, we find the RE  and  SPD  codes  and
the narrative reason for separation that was  issued  at  the  time  of  the
applicant’s  separation  accurately  reflects  the  circumstances   of   her
separation, and we do not find these codes to be in  error  or  unjust.   In
addition, we have seen no evidence  indicating  she  was  not  afforded  all
rights to which entitled during her disability processing.  In view  of  the
foregoing, and absent persuasive evidence  indicating  the  reports  of  the
applicant’s symptoms and their affects on her ability to perform her  duties
were erroneous, or a showing the governing regulations were either  violated
or not based on accepted medical principles, we agree with the  opinion  and
recommendation of the AFBCMR Medical Consultant and find that the  applicant
has not sustained her burden for providing a showing of error or  injustice.
 Accordingly, her request 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 this application in  Executive
Session on 14 December 2005, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                 Mr. Wallace F. Beard Jr., Member
                 Ms. Josephine L. Davis, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with  AFBCMR
Docket Number BC-2004-03733:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 24 Nov 04, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 13 Oct 05.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Oct 05.
    Exhibit E.  Applicant’s Rebuttal, not dated.




                                  THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                  Chair