RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00141
		INDEX CODE:  102.07, 107.00
		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  Not Indicated

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  Her date of rank (DOR) be changed to 2 Jun 99, rather than 13 Jul 01.  

2.  She be awarded the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (AFOEA) that was awarded to the U.S Air Force Academy (USAFA) classes of 1995 - 1998. 

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The basis for her discharge from active duty on 6 Aug 99 was medical conditions that were diagnosed as permanent.  However, she has since been commissioned based on the absence of medical problems.  She had a history of hypothyroidism and was put on thyroid medication.  Her physician stopped her medication in order to treat a spider bite.  She had not been on the medication for nearly 9 months prior to her discharge.  Her history of microhemauria has only been present since her spider bite in July 1998.  It has not affected her health or day-to-day functions.  Her symptoms of plexopathy did not reappear in April 1998.  The symptoms have never been documented as reappearing and did not in any way hamper her abilities to complete all training requirements for graduation.  While a series of tests done in August/September 1998 showed some deficiency in the left shoulder, further evaluations done in November 2000 showed no deficiency.  She was put on antidepressant medication in order to help her sleep better.  She was only on the medication for 6 weeks.  At the time of her discharge, she was not on any antidepressant medication. In November 2000, she was reevaluated and given a clean bill of health.  

She was a member of the Class of 1998 at the timeframe of the award of the AFOEA and completed Combat Survival Training during her second summer at the Academy.  

In support of her request, applicant provided a copy of her Cadet Medical Evaluation Board (CMEB) report, extracts from her medical records, a letter from her physician, a recommendation for award of the MOVSM, a copy of the AFAM, a copy of her USAFA transcript, and a copy of her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.  Her complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the USAFA Class of 1998 on 30 Jun 94.  On 1 Sep 95, she was involved in an automobile accident and sustained injuries to her left arm and shoulder.  In October 1995, she underwent a CMEB.  She was placed in "turn back" status (not actively enrolled and going to classes) for recovery.  She resumed her studies in the summer of 1996 joining the class of 1999.  She was hospitalized from 17 - 21 July 1998 for groin injuries secondary to an arthropod bite.  Following her hospitalization she developed disabling pain about her right hip and groin that persisted through her senior year at the Academy.  In October 1998, she was diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder.  She underwent another CMEB in May 1999 to determine her fitness for commissioning.  The CMEB found her medically disqualified for commissioning due to arthropod bite, hypothyroidism, osteoarthritis of the right hip, plexopathy of the left upper extremity, thin basement membrane disease, and reactive depression.  She was allowed to graduate with a Bachelor's degree from the USAFA without a commission and was medically discharged on 6 Aug 99.  

Subsequent to her discharge, she obtained satisfactory physical and psychiatry evaluations.  She was reevaluated in November 2000, given a clean bill of health, and reentered the USAFA.  She graduated in 2001 and was appointed a second lieutenant Reserve of the Air Force on 13 Jul 01.

Her request to receive the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM), the Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM), and credit for completing Combat Survival Training has been administratively corrected.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial.  The Consultant states that her last year at the USAFA was marked by the requirement for extensive medical care for a variety of conditions that posed ongoing limitations to duty and raised concern regarding her fitness for commissioning and continued service.  The three conditions that appeared most problematic were left arm plexopathy, right hip girdle and groin pain, and adjustment disorder.  Her left brachial plexopathy injury incurred in a motor vehicle accident in September 1996 resulted in persistent left arm weakness and coordination difficulties with certain activities.  Although a September 1998 examination revealed significant weakness of her left hand grip strength and forearm rotation, there was no clear documentation to what extent she was limited by this condition other than pain and numbness.  In the summer of 1998 her neurologist felt her defect had stabilized showing a fixed impairment that would interfere with activities requiring strength and coordination of the left arm.  In the summer of 1998 she developed disabling right hip girdle and groin pain associated with an apparent spider bite that continued to prevent her from participating in cadet physical training activities at the time of graduation.  In October 1998 during her senior year she was diagnosed with adjustment disorder.  A psychiatry examination of May 1999 confirmed ongoing symptoms of this disorder and recommended a course of treatments with antidepressants and states her condition as disqualifying.  The consultant notes that she was able to complete her course of study to graduate and receive her degree, notably on the Dean’s and Commandant’s Honor list.  Her disabling right girdle and groin pain could have been due to loin pain syndrome as suggested by the consulting nephrologist.  Loin pain syndrome is a poorly defined disorder characterized by loin (groin) pain mainly in young women.  Patients with loin pain syndrome are reported to have a psychologic component to their symptoms and are more likely to have unexplained somatic symptoms, a history of an adverse psychological event preceding the onset of pain and a history of greater analgesic ingestion.  

In view of the presence of multiple conditions interfering with activities required of a cadet, a decision regarding fitness for commissioning and continued military service had to be made.  For cadets who have completed 2 years, the medical standards in AFI 48-123, Attachment 2 are used.  In view of the uncertainty of the cause of her primary disabling condition (pain involving the groin, hip and sacroiliac area) and the prolonged nature and lack of improvement over a considerable period of observation, it did not appear that she was going to improve in any reasonable period of time, if at all.  Her other medical conditions, although each alone are not necessarily unfitting, added to the overall picture of an individual who was not fit for commissioning and continued military service.  The decision to medically discharge rather than commission her at the time was clearly proper.  The Medical Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPAO recommends denial.  DPPAO states that the applicant's Total Active Federal Military Service Date, Total Active Federal Commissioned Service Date, Total Federal Commissioned Service Date, and pay date were established correctly.  The DPPAO evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPPOO recommends denial.  DPPPOO states that by law, a graduate of the USAFA is originally appointed a second lieutenant upon graduation and is not entitled to any service credit.  There are no provisions of law to have a date of rank prior to the date of her initial appointment into the Air Force.  The DPPPOO evaluation is at Exhibit E.

AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial of her request to add the AFOEA to her records.  She is not eligible to share in any unit awards while a cadet since she did not graduate during that period of time.  The USAFA has specifically stated that only cadets who graduated from the Academy during 1993 - 1999 are authorized to share in the unit awards.  Since she did not graduate until 2001, she is not eligible for any unit awards earned by the Academy during 1993 - 1999.  The DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit F.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 6 Feb 03 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 timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice that would warrant award of the AFOEA.  In this respect, we note that the established criteria for award of the AFOEA indicates that cadets from the graduating classes of 1993 through 1998 are authorized to wear the AFOEM.  The applicant entered the USAFA in 1994, as a member of the graduating class of 1998.  However, after a 1995 Cadet Medical Evaluation Board determination, she was temporarily placed in a "turn back" status until she was able to resume her studies in 1996 with the graduating class of 1999.  The applicant was assigned and attached to the graduating class of 1998 and contributed to the mission and accomplishments of that class, thus it is our opinion that she should be authorized to wear the AFOEA.  Accordingly, we recommend that her records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

4.  Regarding her request that her DOR be changed to 2 Jun 99, her contentions are duly noted; however, we agree with the opinions of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility that her DOR and service dates were computed correctly upon her graduation and that she is not entitled to any service credit.  Therefore, we adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that she has not been the victim of an error or injustice in this matter.  In the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend favorable consideration of that portion of her request.

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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 she was awarded the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, in accordance with Special Order GB-091, dated 3 May 1995.

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 02-00141 in Executive Session on 12 Mar 03, 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 16 Oct 01, w/atchs .
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 9 May 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAO, dated 30 Aug 02, w/atch.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPOO, dated 9 Oct 02.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 23 Jan 03, w/atchs.
    Exhibit G.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Feb 03.

					

AFBCMR 02-00141

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

	Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

	The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that she was awarded the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, in accordance with Special Order GB-091, dated 3 May 1995.