RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-01265
            INDEX CODE:  110.03, 108.01
            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED:  Yes

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  17 OCT 06

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214 reflect he was not discharged for  medical  disability
with severance pay and he be reinstated in the Air Force.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was unjustly diagnosed  for  psychiatric  and  alcoholic  problems,
which the Air Force claimed were more severe than he had.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 17 Nov 99, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air  Force  for  a
period of four years and served as an aircraft fuel systems journeyman
assigned to the  48th  Component  Repair  Squadron  (48  CRS)  at  RAF
Lakenheath, England.  His Enlisted Performance  Report  (EPR)  closing
16 Jul 01 had an overall rating of 4; the EPR closing 16 Jul 02 had an
overall rating of 3.  He was promoted to the grade  of  senior  airman
with a date of rank of 17 Nov 02.

During the period in question, the applicant was assigned to the 412th
Maintenance Squadron (412 MS) at Edwards AFB, CA.

On 17 Dec 02, he  was  referred  by  the  clinical  psychologist  when
routine screening for a security clearance revealed a heavy pattern of
alcohol usage.  He underwent a residential treatment program during 3-
28 Feb 03 in the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program at  the  Naval
Medical Center, San Diego, and was diagnosed with alcohol  dependence.
He described onset of heavy drinking  at  age  19  and  while  he  was
stationed  in  England.   Medical  history  revealed  a   history   of
depression in Jul 02; he was prescribed  Zoloft  and  the  Paxil.   He
indicated he used alcohol to manage his depression and to fit into his
peer  group.   Upon  completion  of  residential  treatment,  he   was
transferred to aftercare treatment.

By Mar 03, he reported he believed the medication was  “wearing  off.”
He described a general  distrust  of  officers  and  requested  he  be
allowed to be removed from the aftercare program.  His medication  was
increased but he continued  to  report  increased  suspicion,  passive
suicidal ideation, shame at being an American and wearing  a  military
uniform, and feeling he would be better off stationed in Iraq  because
his death would be  beneficial.   He  described  strong  nihilism  and
hopelessness and reported he would one day  go  absent  without  leave
(AWOL).

He was hospitalized 13-15 May 03 after evading  transfer  to  Antelope
Valley Hospital (AVH) for further evaluation.  He fled  four  security
forces’ vehicles, his car coming close to hitting gasoline  pumps  and
harming himself and others.  Restraints were needed for his  transport
to AVH, and he  was  ultimately  discharged  from  the  hospital  with
unchanged diagnoses or treatment plan.

The applicant gradually improved, but his treatment course was “up and
down.”  Treatment was further complicated by disciplinary measures  he
was facing due to  repeatedly  coming  to  work  late.   His  symptoms
exacerbated on 6 Jun 03  when  he  was  confronted  by  his  technical
sergeant after being seen drinking  alcohol  in  the  club  the  night
before.  He was escorted to the clinic by his direct supervisor  after
making statements that he wanted to kill  the  First  Sergeant;  later
explaining he meant to “beat him up . . hit  him”  and  not  take  his
life.  He reported being fearful of being separated, and that he would
kill himself if he were discharged.   His  medications  were  adjusted
with reported improvement.

According to emails contained in the applicant’s records, he  received
an Article 15  on  10 Jun  03,  and  was  punished  with  a  suspended
reduction.  No further information is available.

On 12 Jun 03, the applicant was placed  on  physical  profile  as  not
being worldwide  qualified  due  to  being  on  medication  for  major
depression and paranoid personality disorder.   His  case  was  to  be
referred to a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB).

The commander’s 19 Jun 03 MEB input reports the  applicant  missed  30
days of work due to in-patient alcohol treatment and 72 hours  due  to
in-patient mental health treatment.  The applicant visited the  mental
health physician 3-5 times a week, resulting in up to eight  hours  of
lost duty time. He also underwent six weeks of  outpatient  counseling
for alcohol aftercare, resulting in nearly two lost  duty  days.   The
applicant was presently undergoing administrative separation secondary
to his mental condition.

The MEB convened on 20 Jun 03 and recommended referral to an  Informal
Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB) with the following  findings:   major
depressive  disorder,  single  episode,  severe,   without   psychotic
features; alcohol dependence; paranoid personality disorder;  problems
with coworkers; social/industrial and military  impairment.   The  MEB
summary found the applicant required  frequent  psychiatric  follow-up
and had demonstrated a benefit from  a  course  of  an  anti-psychotic
medication targeting symptoms of  agitation  and  suspiciousness,  and
recommended inpatient hospitalization to facilitate transition if  the
applicant was separated.  The summary noted the applicant asked to  be
allowed to return to his job and stay in the Air Force, indicating the
medication helped his depression and suicidal ideation.

On 2 Jul 03, the EPR closing 13 Jun 03 was referred to  the  applicant
with an overall rating of 2 (not recommended  for  promotion  at  this
time).  He  was  marked  as  failing  to  meet  standards  and  having
unacceptable on/off duty conduct.  The rater indicated  the  applicant
received a Letter  of  Reprimand  (LOR)  for  failure  to  go  to  his
appointed place of duty on numerous occasions.

According to emails in the applicant’s records, he was recommended for
discharge on 8 Jul 03 for mental disorders under  AFI  36-3208,  para.
5.11.9; however,  the  discharge  package  is  not  contained  in  his
records.

On  21 Jul  03,  the  IPEB  referred  the  applicant  for  psychiatric
assessment of past psychiatric/social history.  An 8 Aug  03  Addendum
to the MEB Summary indicated that  after  initially  reporting  for  a
security clearance interview, the applicant was diagnosed with alcohol
dependence, major depressive disorder, single  episode,  severe,  with
paranoid personality disorder.  Though he was initially unaware of the
extent of his difficulties, he  came  to  understand  that  his  chief
complaint was a  combination  of  depression  and  alcohol  use.   The
applicant reported he was in counseling  for  approximately  one  year
when he was 8-9 years old because he  was  “shy  and  withdrawn.”   He
denied any other significant psychiatric or social history.

The IPEB convened on 28 Aug 03, diagnosed the applicant with unfitting
major depressive disorder, definite social and industrial adaptability
impairment, with non-ratable and non-compensable paranoid  personality
disorder and alcohol dependence.  Discharge with 10% severance pay was
recommended.  The applicant disagreed and requested a Formal  Physical
Evaluation Board (FPEB).

On  7 Oct  03,  a  civilian  psychiatrist  advised  he  evaluated  the
applicant on 29 Sep 03, determined the applicant was currently  stable
with his medications, and recommended he be returned to  work  without
restrictions.

On  9 Oct  03,  the  FPEB  concurred  with  the  IPEB’s  findings  and
recommendations.  The applicant disagreed and, on 21 Oct 03, submitted
a rebuttal.  He asserted he wanted and was able to  perform  his  job,
that his statements had  been  skewed  and  overblown,  and  that  his
actions had been misrepresented.

On 23 Dec 03, the Office of the Secretary of the Air  Force  Personnel
Council (SAF/MRBP) concurred with the FPEB.  The  SAF/MRBP  considered
returning the applicant to duty, noting his symptoms have been brought
under control under his current treatment.  However, the board  opined
the combined effects of the  applicant’s  major  depressive  disorder,
paranoid personality  disorder,  and  history  of  alcohol  dependence
collectively posed  an  unreasonable  long-term  risk  for  unexpected
exacerbation of  either  condition,  particularly  under  the  austere
environmental, physical, and mental challenges facing today’s Air  and
Space Expeditionary Force.

On 17 Feb 04, the applicant was honorably discharged in the  grade  of
senior airman for disability with 10% severance pay, after four years,
three months, and one day of active service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPD contends a review of the applicant’s  medical  evaluation
indicates the IPEB, the FPEB and  the  SAF/MRBP  found  the  applicant
unfit for continued service based on  major  depressive  disorder  and
definite social and industrial  adaptability  impairment.   Therefore,
denial is recommended.

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 05 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 the narrative reason for his discharge should be changed and
he be reinstated in the  Air  Force.   A  mental  diagnosis  does  not
necessarily render an individual unfit for military service,  and  the
applicant’s symptoms were eventually  brought  under  control  with  a
specific  treatment  regimen.   However,  his  major  depressive   and
paranoid personality disorders, together with his history  of  alcohol
dependence,  pose   unacceptable   long-term   risks   for   potential
exacerbation if exposed to the austere  environmental,  physical,  and
mental challenges of military service.  In our  view,  his  submission
has not overcome our concern that reinstatement would  jeopardize  the
best interests of both the applicant and the Air Force.  We  therefore
agree with the findings and recommendations of both  SAF/MRBP  and  HQ
AFPC/DPPD and adopt their rationale as the basis for our decision that
the applicant has not sustained either an error or an  injustice.   In
view of the above and absent persuasive evidence to the  contrary,  we
find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought.

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  issue(s)   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  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-
2005-01265 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 Mar 05, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPD, dated 3 Jun 05.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Jun 05.



                                   MICHAEL J. NOVEL
                                   Panel Chair