RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-02303
                                             INDEX CODE:  100.03 & 100.06
      XXXXXXX                           COUNSEL:  NONE

                                             HEARING DESIRED:  NO


MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  20 January 2007


________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Reentry Code of “2Q” be changed to allow  his  reentry  into  the  armed
forces.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was medically discharged  for  a  pre-existing  condition,  i.e.,  kidney
stones; however, the kidney stones he had while deployed to  Iraq  were  due
to the environment and lifestyle of desert warfare,  rather  than  his  pre-
existing condition.  Since his deployment  to  Iraq,  he  has  had  no  more
episodes or pain due to kidney stones.

An independent study by Washington State University has found that  although
kidney stones are uncommon in people under the age of 30, soldiers  deployed
to Iraq, who are mostly in their 20’s, have an increased risk of  developing
the condition due to their unique lifestyle.   Further,  an  Army  physician
has found that battlefield kidney stones were caused  by  dehydration,  high
altitude, and a high protein diet  from  Meals  Ready  to  Eat  (MREs).   In
addition, drinking  large  quantities  of  high-mineral  bottled  water,  as
deployed personnel are required to do, is also thought to be a  contributing
factor.   More  importantly,  soldiers  have  been  treated  for  the   same
condition and returned to their wartime duties in Iraq.

He is presently enrolled in a  bachelor’s  degree  program  at  Idaho  State
University and the Navy is considering  him  for  a  commissioning  program;
however, his Reentry Code will not allow him to return to active duty.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a letter of recommendation  from
the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC)  of  the  Kirtland  AFB  Honor
Guard,  extracts  from  his  service  personnel  and  medical  records,  his
application for a Navy commission, and  various  information  obtained  from
the internet concerning kidney stones and personnel  deployed  to  Iraq  and
Afghanistan.

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

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Fore on 4 June 2002, for a  period  of
four years.

Based on renal colic on 5 and 18 December 2003, resulting in the passing  of
kidney stones while deployed to Iraq,  the  applicant  was  presented  to  a
Medical Evaluation Board (MEB).  On  6  May  2004,  the  MEB  established  a
diagnosis of recurrent nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) and recommended  that
he be referred to an Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB).   On  21 May
2004, an IPEB sustained the diagnosis  of  the  MEB,  found  him  unfit  for
continued military  service,  determined  the  condition  existed  prior  to
service (EPTS) without service aggravation, and recommended  his  discharge.
On 28 May 2004, he agreed with the findings and recommendation of  the  IPEB
and waived his right to a  Formal  Physical  Evaluation  Board  (FPEB).   On
1 June 2004, the Secretary  of  the  Air  Force  Personnel  Council  (SAFPC)
announced the decision of the Secretary of  the  Air  Force  to  direct  his
discharge.

He was honorably discharged on 20 July 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-
3208 (Disability, EPTS) and  issued  a  Reentry  Code  of  “2Q  -  Personnel
medically retired or discharged.”  He completed 2 years,  1  month,  and  17
days of active service.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant is of the opinion that no change to the  records
is warranted and states, in  part,  the  applicant  has  an  abnormality  of
kidney function that results in abnormally high levels  of  calcium  in  his
urine, leading to the formation of recurrent kidney stones.   Prior  to  his
military service  and  while  deployed  to  Iraq,  he  experienced  multiple
recurrent kidney  stones.   His  underlying  kidney  abnormality  makes  the
formation of kidney stones an almost certainty under the adverse  conditions
of deployed  operational  environments.   Even  with  medical  treatment  to
reduce calcium excretion into the urine, he  remains  at  unacceptable  risk
for kidney stone formation.  Although he cites an Army member who  developed
kidney  stones  and  was  returned  to  his  deployed  unit,  the   specific
circumstances of





that case  are  unknown.   Regardless,  Army  decisions  regarding  deployed
personnel do not apply to decisions rendered by  the  Air  Force  concerning
Air Force personnel.

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

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the evaluation was  forwarded  to  the  applicant  on  25
August 2006, for review and comment, within 30 days.  However,  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 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-2005-02303
in Executive Session on 27 September 2006, under the provisions of  AFI  36-
2603:

                       Ms. Marilyn Thomas, Vice Chair
                       Mr. John E. B. Smith, Member
                       Ms. Barbara R. Murray, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 19 Jul 05, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Memo, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 22 Aug 06.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Aug 06.



                                   MARILYN THOMAS
                                   Vice Chair