RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-04025 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: Yes 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His discharge and reentry code (RE) be changed to allow him to 
reenter the Armed Services as a commissioned officer. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

His medical retirement and his RE code are in error and unjust. 
He has been deemed healthy by two physicians. Furthermore, he 
has no heart issues, for which he was medically retired. He did 
not want to leave military service and had an outstanding 
service record since basic training and would like to serve his 
country again. During his time in the Air Force, he considered 
making a career out of the military; that feeling has become 
stronger over time. 

 

He has met all the standards for selection. He has always been 
a leader, from leading his section of the band to being the 
captain of various sports teams. He wants to lead the men and 
women of the United States. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of his 
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 
Duty, and several medical opinions. 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant is a former member of the Regular Air Force who 
served from 3 January 2006 through 21 March 2007. He was 
referred to an Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB) for 
Post Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. The IPEB recommended the 
applicant be permanently retired with a disability rating of 
30 percent in accordance with Department of Defense and Veterans 
Administrative Schedule for Rating Disabilities guidelines. 

 


On 1 February 2007, the Secretary of the Air Force approved the 
recommendation and directed the applicant be medically retired 
under the provisions of Title 10 USC 1201. The applicant was 
medically retired effective 22 March 2007 with an RE code of 2Q 
(approved medical retirement or separation). He served 1 year, 
2 months and 19 days on active duty. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSD recommends denial. DPSD states the preponderance of 
evidence reflects no error or injustice occurred during the 
disability process. 

 

The complete DPSD evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

AFPC/DPSOA recommends denial. DPSOA validated the applicant’s 
permanent disability retirement processing. They also confirmed 
RE code 2Q is correct per AFI 36-2606, Reenlistment in the 
United States Air Force, based on his disability discharge. 

 

The complete DPSOA evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends approval. The BCMR 
Medical Consultant opines the applicant may have been fluid 
depleted, as suggested in one of the post service evaluations, 
during the periods of dizziness and reported syncopal episodes. 
Sudden changes in posture, standing or rising to an erect 
position after a long period of lying in a fluid depleted state 
could produce the symptoms described in the applicant’s case. 
This does not explain why the applicant presented daily episodes 
of shortness of breath with any sort of exertion. However, the 
fact that he passed his exercise treadmill test, with roughly 10 
minutes of sustained exertion, rules out exercise induced 
asthma. 

 

Based on the medical evidence presented, the applicant no longer 
exhibits the medical impairment that resulted in his separation. 
Therefore, the medical consultant recommends changing the RE 
code to one which allows the applicant to re-apply for service 
entry. Changing the RE code does not guarantee acceptance into 
the military system as he will require clearance by the Military 
Entrance Processing Station. 

 

The complete BCMR Medical Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit E. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant submitted copies of his VA medical examination 
which proves he is not disabled. He is also not concerned with 
the potential loss of his VA medical benefits or his disability 


payments should the Board favorably consider his request. He 
has two jobs and can easily acquire medical coverage. 

 

The applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit F. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

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 in the actions 
taken to medically retire the applicant. However, the BCMR 
Medical Consultant opines that based on the medical evidence 
provided by the applicant in his appeal, it could be an 
injustice to deny the applicant the opportunity to seek reentry 
into active military service if indeed his unfitting condition 
has resolved and he is found fit. We note the BCMR Medical 
Consultant recommends amending the applicant’s record to reflect 
the applicant experienced recurrent syncope and near syncopal 
episodes of an inclusive cause, that has resolved and that the 
applicant does not currently exhibit the symptoms of Postural 
Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome based on the test results 
disputing the diagnosis. We are not persuaded that this 
correction should be made. Also, in recognizing that the 
applicant’s actions to reenter military service if successful 
will more likely than not result in a loss of the current 
benefits he enjoys, we are somewhat reluctant to grant any of 
the relief sought. Nevertheless, based on the applicant’s 
explicitly stated understanding of the risks associated with his 
action and his expressed willingness to forego the benefits of 
his current status and the recommendation of the BCMR Medical 
Consultant that the applicant should at least be provided the 
opportunity to seek reentry into military service, we recommend 
the applicant’s record be corrected as indicated below. We are 
also guided by the fact that our action in no way guarantees the 
applicant will be successful in his effort to reenter military 
service and it will be the applicant’s burden to provide the 
necessary medical evidence as well as meet all requirements for 
reentering military service. Therefore, we recommend the 
applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below. 

 

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 issues involved. 
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably 
considered. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

 


THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 
21 March 2007, he was separated under the provisions of AFI 36-
3208, paragraph 1.2 (Secretarial Authority) with a separation 
code of JFF and a reenlistment eligibility (RE) code of 3K. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-
2010-04025 in Executive Session on 26 May 2011 and again on 
25 August 2011, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, 19 Oct 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSD, 9 Dec 10. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOA, 20 Jan 11. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, 8 Apr 11. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant’s Response, 16 May 11. 

 Exhibit G. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, 27 Jul 11. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBC, 28 July 11. 

 Exhibit I. E-mail, Applicant’s Response, 9 Aug 11. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair