RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-03895
INDEX CODE: 108.07
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: Not Indicated
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 24 Jun 06
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His service-connected medical conditions, hypertensive heart disease and
impaired hearing, be assessed as combat related in order to qualify for
compensation under the Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) Act.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
His hearing loss was first noted on 28 Jun 66 and progressed until it
eventually ended his career. During his entire career he was in training
for direct and indirect combat. He developed hypertension while on active
duty and it progressively got worse through out his career.
In support of his request, applicant provided documentation associated with
his CRSC application. His complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
Applicant contracted his initial enlistment in the Regular Air Force on 18
Apr 52. He was progressively promoted to the grade of staff sergeant,
having assumed that grade effective and with a date of rank of 1 Dec 71.
He served as a Ground Radio Repair Technician. He voluntarily retired from
the Air Force on 31 Jan 79, having served 24 years and 10 days on active
duty.
His CRSC application was disapproved on 25 Feb 04, 30 Sep 04, and 7 Oct 04
based upon the fact that his service-connected medical condition was
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 his hypertensive heart disease and impaired hearing
are not combat related. While performing military duties can be stressful
and stress can be a contributing factor to heart disease, CRSC cannot be
approved for this condition as combat related. It is difficult to
determine this factor as the definitive cause of the condition rather than
other causes. Impaired hearing cannot be considered combat related unless
it is incidental to a combat related event or due to documented, continual,
extensive exposure to combat related noise and the conditions were shown to
have manifested while in service. His records do show he suffered from
hearing loss while in service; however, his Air Force Specialty is
currently not eligible for compensation for impaired hearing unless
evidence indicates he suffered from an acute combat related trauma.
Occasional exposure to aircraft noise is not sufficient to warrant
compensation under existing program guidelines.
The DPPD evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
Applicant reiterates his previous statements and provided a synopsis of his
career and a brief summary of his medical history. He states that loud
noises are prevalent on every base or station. His entire career was in
support of some combat operation. Most disabilities have a long incubation
period and may not surface until the body's defenses have weakened or
cannot fight them off.
His complete response 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
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.
_________________________________________________________________
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-
03895 in Executive Session on 12 Oct 05, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:
Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
Mr. James W. Russell III, Member
Mr. Christopher D. Carey, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 14 Dec 04, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPD, dated 17 Mar 05.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Mar 05.
Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 8 Apr 05.
THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
Chair
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