RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:   BC-
2005-01847
                                               INDEX   CODE:
110.02

                                             COUNSEL:  DAV

                                                     HEARING
DESIRED:  NOT INDICATED



MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  8 DECEMBER 2006


_____________________________________________________________
______

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His  administrative  discharge  be  changed  to  a   medical
discharge.

_____________________________________________________________
______

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He should have been authorized a medical board and review to
be medically retired.

In support of his appeal, applicant has provided  copies  of
his      DD Form 214, Certificate of  Release  or  Discharge
from   Active   Duty,   the   Medical   Group    Commander’s
Recommendation for Administrative Separation, VA Form 21-22,
Appointment of Veterans Service Organization  As  Claimant’s
Representation, and a Memorandum from the Disabled  American
Veterans National Service Office.

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

_____________________________________________________________
______

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 3 Dec 03, for
a period of six years in the grade  of  airman  basic.   His
highest grade held was airman first class.

On 17  Sep  04,  applicant  was  notified  by  his  squadron
commander that he was recommending he be discharged from the
Air Force for mental disorders.  He recommended an honorable
discharge based on a Mental Health Evaluation reflecting the
following diagnosis:   Axis  I:   Adjustment  Disorder  with
Depressed Mood, Axis II:  Schizotypal Personality  Disorder,
and Axis IV:  Occupational problems; Problems  with  primary
support group.   It  was  determined  that  his  ability  to
function  in  a  military  environment   was   significantly
impaired and that he was unsuitable for  continued  military
service.

On  17  Sep  04,  applicant  acknowledged  receipt  of   the
discharge notification and, after consulting  with  counsel,
waived his right to submit statements in his own behalf.

The Wing Staff Judge Advocate found the  case  file  legally
sufficient and recommended the applicant be  separated  with
an honorable discharge without probation and rehabilitation.
 On     30 Sep 04,  the  discharge  authority  approved  the
discharge.

On 4 Oct 04, applicant was honorably  discharged  under  the
provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  by  reason   of   personality
disorder, and was issued an RE Code  of  2C,  [involuntarily
Separated with an honorable discharge].  He served on active
duty for a period of ten months and one day.

_____________________________________________________________
______

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

BCMR Medical Consultant is of the opinion no change  in  the
records is warranted.  Applicant entered active duty  3  Dec
03, at the age of 19  and  served  as  a  munitions  systems
apprentice.  Following  enlistment  and  prior  to  entering
active  duty,  the  applicant  married  in  September  2003.
Following initial training he  was  assigned  to  his  first
permanent base arriving in April 2004.  The applicant sought
services from the mental health  clinic  in  July  2004  for
depressed mood, anger, insomnia, and decreased concentration
in the setting of  marital  discord  (divorce  proceedings),
being away  from  his  family  and  being  new  to  military
service.  A performance report  for  this  period  indicated
problems  with  concentration  affecting  duty  performance.
Mental  health  evaluation  (memorandum  dated  3  Aug   04)
reported diagnoses of  Adjustment  Disorder  with  Depressed
Mood  and  Schizotypal  Personality   Disorder   that   were
unsuiting for continued  military  service  and  recommended
administrative separation.  The applicant was  discharged  4
Oct 04.

Following  separation  from  the  military   the   applicant
presented to the Department of Veterans  Affairs  (DVA)  for
benefits.  Psychiatric examination dated 8 Dec 04, concluded
with  diagnosis  of  Personality  Disorder   Not   Otherwise
Specified with Schizotypal  and  Borderline  features.   The
evaluation documented long standing symptoms associated with
the condition since adolescence and a history  of  treatment
for  ADHD  (attention   deficit   hyperactivity   disorder).
Adjustment Disorder was not diagnosed at the  time  of  that
examination.   The  DVA   has   denied   service   connected
disability compensation for his personality disorder because
it is considered a congenital or developmental defect  which
is unrelated to military service.

Adjustment Disorder and Personality Disorders are conditions
that alone or together render an individual  unsuitable  for
military service.  Adjustment Disorder is  characterized  by
marked psychological distress in  response  to  identifiable
stressors that overcome the individual’s ability to cope and
is frequently  associated  with  significant  impairment  in
social and  occupational  functioning.   The  emotional  and
behavioral responses may be in excess of what would normally
be   expected   given   the   nature   of   the   stressors.
Manifestations   can   include   depressed    mood,    sleep
disturbance, anxiety, and disturbances of conduct (including
suicidal ideation and behaviors).  Personality disorders are
not a disease, but lifelong patterns or maladjustment in the
individual’s personality structure (patterns of  perception,
emotions, behavior) and coping skills that lead to  distress
or impairment in social or  occupational  functioning.   The
features  of   a   Personality   Disorder   usually   become
recognizable during adolescence or early adult life and  are
pervasive  and  inflexible.    Personality   disorders   are
frequently  exacerbated  by  stress  and  may  present  with
symptoms    consistent     with     Adjustment     Disorder.
Manifestations (symptoms and behavior)  of  personality  and
adjustment disorders wax and wane over time depending on the
nature and degree of stressors present at  any  given  time.
The fact that following separation from the  military  there
are no longer symptoms warranting  diagnosis  of  Adjustment
Disorder is consistent with that condition.

Adjustment  Disorder  and  personality  disorders  are   not
medically disqualifying or  unfitting  but  may  render  the
individual unsuitable for further military service  and  may
be cause for administrative action by the individual’s  unit
commander.  Personality Disorder and Adjustment Disorder are
“unsuiting” conditions that are not ratable  or  compensable
under the rules of  the  military  disability  system  (DODI
1332.38, paragraph E2.1.25.  and  E5).   The  applicant  was
properly  evaluated  and   separated   for   his   unsuiting
condition.   Review  of  service  medical  records  and  DVA
records finds no condition that warranted evaluation in  the
disability evaluation system.   Action  and  disposition  in
this case are proper  and  equitable  reflecting  compliance
with Air Force directives that implement the law.

BCMR Medical Consultant’s complete evaluation is at  Exhibit
C.

_____________________________________________________________
______

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 19 Jul 06,  a  copy  of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  was
forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within  30
days.  As of this date, this office has received no response
(Exhibit D).

_____________________________________________________________
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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.   We  took
notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the
merits of the case; however, we agree with the  opinion  and
recommendation of the BCMR Medical Consultant and adopt  his
rationale as the basis for our 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 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 Docket  Number
      BC-2005-01847 in Executive Session on 24 August  2006,
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Michael J. Novel, Panel Chair
      Mr. Gregory A. Parker, Member
      Ms. Jan Mulligan, Member

The following  documentary  evidence  pertaining  to  Docket
Number     BC-2005-01847 was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 13 Apr 05, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFBCMR Medical Consultant,
                dated 18 Jul 06.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Jul 06.




                                               MICHAEL    J.
NOVEL
                                             Panel Chair