RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 
DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2012-00492 
IN THE MATTER OF: 
COUNSEL:  NO 
   
    
HEARING DESIRED: NOT INDICATED  
   
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 
 
His  service-connected  disability  of  Post-Traumatic  Stress 
Disorder  (PTSD)  and  entitlement  to  special  monthly  compensation 
be  reevaluated  under  the  Combat-Related  Special  Compensation 
(CRSC) program.   
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
 
While stationed in Korea, he witnessed soldiers who were killed, 
wounded, and mutilated.  He should be granted compensation under 
the CRSC program for his service-connected disability of PTSD.   
 
In  support  of  his  request,  the  applicant  provides  copies  of  DD 
Form  214  (Army),  Report  of  Separation  from  the  Armed  Forces  of 
the  United  States;  an  information  paper  on  the  Korean  Service 
Medal;  and  his  Department  of  Veteran  Affairs  (DVA)  Rating 
Decision, dated 30 August 2011.   
 
The  applicant's  complete  submission,  with  attachments,  is  at 
Exhibit A. 
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
 
The applicant is a former member of the Air Force Reserve with 
prior service in the United States Army.  He served during the 
Korean  Conflict  while  in  the  Army.    He  was  transferred  to  the 
Retired  Reserve  effective  23  April  1990  in  the  grade  of  master 
sergeant (E-7).   
 
The applicant submitted a claim for CRSC for impaired hearing and 
tinnitus  and  was  approved  on  15  June  2006.    He  submitted  a 
subsequent  request  for  PTSD  but  was  disapproved  on  20  October 
2011.    The  applicant  requested  reconsideration  of  the  board’s 
disapproval, but the request was denied on 31 January 2012.   
 
According to the applicant’s DVA Rating Decision, dated 20 August 
2011,  the  DVA  granted  service  connection  for  PTSD  with  a 
disability  rating  of  30  percent;  and,  Bilateral  Moderate 

Sensorineural  Hearing  Loss  with  a  disability  rating  of 
10 percent.   
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
AFPC/DPSDC recommends denial of the applicant’s request that his 
PTSD be approved for CRSC.  DPSDC states his condition does not 
meet  the  mandatory  criteria  for  compensation  under  the  CRSC 
program  as  outlined  under  the  provisions  of  Title  10,  United 
States Code (USC), Section 1413a.   
 
The  applicant’s  claims  he  participated  in-country  Korea  during 
the  Korean  War.    In  his  appeal,  the  applicant  indicates  he 
“witnessed soldiers who were killed, wounded, mutilations.”  The 
applicant’s  DVA  appeal  indicates  he  witnessed  the  death  of  a 
soldier and reported daily witnessing of wounded soldiers; others 
being  injured  and  others  killed.    In  accordance  with  DD  Form 
2860,  Claim  for  Combat-Related  Special  Compensation  (CRSC), the 
fact  that  a  member  incurred  a  disability  in  an  area  of  armed 
conflict  or  while  participating  in  combat  operations  is  not 
sufficient  by  itself  to  support  a  combat-related  determination.  
There must be a definite, documented, causal relationship between 
the  armed  conflict  and  the  resulting  disability.    The  DVA’s 
decision  to  grant  the  applicant  service  connection  does  not 
automatically  qualify  a  disability  as  combat-related  under  the 
CRSC  program.    When  making  combat-related  determinations  for 
PTSD,  under  the  Armed  Conflict  criteria,  the  board  looks  for 
instances of direct combat exposure, such as direct exposure to 
gunfire or mortar attack.  PTSD “stressors” attributed to death 
of individuals, where the member was not directly involved in the 
event that caused the death(s), do not qualify for CRSC.   
 
DPSDC indicates the available documentation does not confirm the 
applicant was exposed to hostile fire.  
 
The complete DPSDC evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C.   
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant 
on 17 April 2012 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit 
D).  As of this date, this office has received no response.  
 
_________________________________________________________________ 
 

 

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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 not timely filed; however, it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 
 
3.  Insufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  The available 
evidence of record does not support a finding that the service-
connected  medical  condition  the  applicant  believes  is  combat-
related  was  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, does 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 basis to recommend granting 
the relief sought in this application. 
 
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  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-
2012-00492  in  Executive  Session  on  13  November  2012,  under  the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 
 
Panel Chair 
Member 
Member 

 
 
 

 

 

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The  following  documentary  evidence  pertaining  to  AFBCMR  Docket 
Number BC-2012-00492 was considered: 
 
    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 9 Feb 12, w/atchs. 
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSDC, dated 11 Apr 12, w/atchs. 
    Exhibit D.  Letters, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 Apr 12. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  
Panel Chair 

  
  

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

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