RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-02473
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: YES
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His Fitness Assessment (FA), dated 1 Feb 13, be corrected in the
Air Force Fitness Management System (AFFMS) to reflect that he
was exempt from all components with the exception of the
abdominal circumference (AC) measurement.
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
His medical condition was discovered subsequent to the contested
FA and his AF Form 422, Notification of Air Force Members
Qualification Status, did not have the correct limitations
listed based on his diagnosis. His medical evaluation on 7 May
confirmed his diagnosis of Neural Fibroma and the limitations
were updated 8 May 13 on an AF Form 469, Duty Limiting Condition
Report.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant served in the Regular Air Force during the matter
under review.
On 11 Jan 13, an AF Form 422 was issued by the applicants
medical provider, which resulted in him being exempt from the
1.5 mile run, sit-ups, and push-ups. The applicant was cleared
to perform the 1 mile walk and AC measurement. This AF Form
422 expired on 22 Feb 13.
On 1 Feb 13, the applicant participated in the contested FA and
failed to attain the minimum score in the cardio component. As
a result, he was credited with zero points for the cardio
component and attained an overall composite score of 35.20,
resulting in an unsatisfactory rating.
On 25 Feb 13, three days after the expiration of the above AF
Form 422, the applicant retested on all FA components and
attained an overall composite score of 78.90, resulting in a
satisfactory rating.
On 7 May 13, the applicant was evaluated by a medical provider
at Larchmont medical imaging who indicated there was a soft
tissue mass at the T1 level, which was concerning for meningioma
or peripheral nerve sheath tumor such as schwannoma or
neurofibroma. The evaluation also indicated that the spinal
cord was displaced to the right and mildly compressed; however
there was no cord signal abnormality, alignment of the thoracic
spine is satisfactory, and there was no disc herniation at any
level.
On 8 May 13, the applicants limitations were documented on an
AF Form 469, and he was exempted from all FA components with the
exception of the AC measurement.
On 2 Jan 14, the Fitness Assessment Appeals Board (FAAB) denied
relief to the applicant indicating there was insufficient
evidence (specifically medical documents) to support his claim.
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are
described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of
primary responsibility, which is attached at Exhibit B.
IR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSIM recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of
an error or an injustice. While the applicant contends the
undiagnosed condition precluded successful completion of the
contested FA, he includes no information that confirms this
condition was present during the time period where he
participated in the FA on 1 Feb 13. Furthermore, the applicant
retested on all components 25 Feb 13 and attained a satisfactory
rating. Without documentation to confirm there was a causal
relationship established between the applicants medical
condition and the contested FA failure, the requested relief
should be denied.
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIM evaluation is at Exhibit B.
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The applicants rebuttal statement details his account of the
facts related to the contested FA and his belief that there is a
causal relationship between his pain and his heart rate, putting
him in an indefensible state to successfully pass the 1-mile
walk on the contested FA. Additionally he indicates that his
personal motivation to complete another FA on 25 Feb 13 without
any exemptions was a testament to his commitment to the AF Core
Values. There was no new information from the medical community
to present that the condition was present at the time of the
contested FA. In support of his response, he provides an
expanded personal statement and copies of peer reviewed medical
articles, medical documentation, and a statement from a
neurosurgeons office to confirm that he had a procedure to
remove a tumor that was causing pain in the thoracic area on
9 Sept 13. The applicants complete response, with attachments,
is at Exhibit D.
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by
existing law or regulations.
2. The application was timely filed.
3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. The
applicant contends that he had a medical condition that
precluded him from attaining a passing score on the contested
FA. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the
applicants complete submission, we believe that a preponderance
of the evidence indicates that corrective action is warranted.
In this respect, we note the applicant has provided medical
documentation from his neurosurgeons office indicating he had a
tumor removed that was causing pain and attesting to the fact
that the condition precluded successful completion of the
contested FA. While we note the comments of the Air Force
office of primary responsibility indicating the applicant has
not provided documentation that the condition was present during
the time period of the contested FA, we are convinced by the
evidence presented that there was a causal relationship between
the applicants medical condition and his inability to attain a
passing score. Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected
as indicated below.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was
exempt from the cardio, push-up, and sit-up components of the
Fitness Assessment (FA), dated 1 Feb 13.
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket
Number 2013-02473 in Executive Session on 30 Apr 14, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The
following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 22 May 13, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 2 Jan 14, w/atch.
Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Jan 14.
Exhibit D. Applicants Rebuttal, undated.
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