RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-03800
		COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED: NO

	 

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her entry-level separation and narrative reason of “Personality 
Disorder” be changed to a medical discharge with a sleep 
disorder and/or narcolepsy narrative reason.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

1. She is trying to gain employment through her state and would 
like to have her military records corrected to show the proper 
diagnosis.  

2. She was not aware of her medical condition at the time of her 
discharge, but now believes that her discharge was inequitably 
due to her excessive sleepiness and sleepwalking.  However, she 
was classified as having a personality disorder that was later 
found to be due to her narcolepsy illness.

3. At the time of her discharge, she was told that due to her 
sleepwalking disorder that she was not fit for duty and would 
not be allowed to continue serving in the Air Force.  It was 
during Basic Military Training (BMT) that she began experiencing 
difficulties adjusting to not getting enough sleep due to the 
military regimen.  She had never experienced anything like this 
before.  

4. In 2007, she was finally diagnosed as having narcolepsy with 
cataplexy and obstructive sleep apnea/hypoxemia syndrome.  These 
symptoms were seen as a mental/mood disorder rather than a 
neurological disorder.  Since her diagnosis, she must take 
Adderall daily in order to stay alert.  She wishes she had known 
sooner about her condition; however, her doctor explained to her 
that it was common to be diagnosed later on in life.  


In support of her request, the applicant provides a copy of her 
DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge from the 
Armed Forces of the United States, a copy of her DD Form 214, 
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, a letter 
from the Disorders Center and the Salem Hospital Medical 
Director, excerpts from her medical records, a personal 
statement, her discharge package, WHMC Form 2999, Mental Health 
Evaluation of Active Duty Air Force Personnel, and a memorandum 
from the Behavioral Analysis Service.

Her complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted into the Air Force Reserve on 1 Mar 05.  
The applicant was notified by her commander that she was 
recommending her for discharge from the Air Force under the 
provisions of AFPD 36-32 and AFI 36-3208, Chapter 5, Section 5B, 
Involuntary Convenience of the Government, Paragraph 5.11, 
Conditions that Interfere with Military service, specifically 
Paragraph 5.11.9, under Mental Disorders.  The applicant was 
diagnosed with:

	Axis I – Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood and 
	         Sleepwalking Disorder.
	Axis II – Deferred.
	Axis III – Refer to applicant’s medical records.  

After a legal review, the Chief of Adverse Actions found the 
case to be legally sufficient.  The applicant received entry-
level separation with a narrative reason for separation of 
Personality Disorder effective 25 Mar 05 after serving 25 days 
on active duty.  

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letters prepared by the appropriate offices of 
the Air Force, which is at Exhibit B.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial of changing her 
reason for discharge to medical, but alternatively recommends 
offering her Secretarial Authority.  In this respect, the 
Medical Consultant agrees with the implicit contention that her 
sleepwalking and/or sleep apnea were the result of her inability 
to adapt to the military service-training environment that 
resulted in her referral for a mental health evaluation.  
However, her reported and witnessed crying spells in response to 
her difficulties, added the new dimension of her adaptability to 
military service.  Consequently, she was diagnosed with an 
Adjustment Disorder.  The Medical Consultant finds that either 
of the aforementioned diagnoses could have resulted in the 
applicant’s involuntary discharge.  However, since the 
conditions became disqualifying within 180 days of service, by 
policy she would have been vulnerable for the entry-level 
separation that she received.  Moreover, since neither condition 
would have been considered compensable disabilities; with both, 
more likely than not, existing prior to service; noting their 
clinical expression so soon after entering active military 
service; and the self-report of observations made by her spouse.  

With respect to the applicant’s narcolepsy and cataplexy spells, 
although listed in the VA rating schedule as compensable 
conditions, these episodes were predominantly displayed after 
the applicant’s release from service in 2007.

The Medical Consultant firmly recommends granting some relief as 
the applicant was never diagnosed with a Personality Disorder, 
noting that this diagnosis was the Default entry made on the 
DD Forms 214 for individuals discharged for what was determined 
to be an unsuitable mental disorder.  Therefore, rather than 
burden the applicant with sleepwalking on her DD Form 214, or 
Adjustment Disorder, the latter which has likely resolved since 
her release from service, the Medical Consultant recommends 
changing her narrative reason to Secretarial Authority.

The complete Medical Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit B.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 22 Jan 14 for review and comment within 30 days.  
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.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice warranting a 
measure of relief.  We note the BCMR Medical Consultant’s 
recommendation that the applicant’s narrative reason should be 
changed to reflect Secretarial Authority.   After a thorough 
review of the documentation submitted, we agree with the BCMR 
Medical Consultant’s recommendation to change her narrative 
reason to “Secretarial Authority” since she was never diagnosed 
with a “Personality Disorder.” Accordingly, we recommend the 
records be corrected as indicated below.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 25 
March 2005, she was discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-
3208, paragraph 1.2, Secretarial Authority with Separation 
Program Designator (SPD) Code of KFF.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2013-03800 in Executive Session on 22 Apr 14, 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, dated 5 Aug 13, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 17 Jan 14.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 22 Jan 14.




                                   
                                   Panel Chair









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