RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00780
		INDEX NUMBER:  110.00
	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL:  None

	XXX-XX-XXXX	HEARING DESIRED:  No

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His discharge from the Air Force on 4 Aug 67 be changed to medical retirement.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He has found out that his disabling problem is anxiety, which started while he was on active duty.  This condition was misdiagnosed at the time of his discharge as an adjustment disorder.  The misdiagnosis has impacted his whole life.  He has had 27 jobs in 33 years.  He has been awarded disability by the Veterans Administration (VA).

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the evaluations prepared by the appropriate offices of the Air Force found at Exhibits C and D.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial of the applicant’s request.

The applicant was administratively discharged from the Air Force for problems related to anxiety that were determined to be situational in nature associated with the stress of work in military environments, specifically guarding nuclear missiles and then an assignment to a remote base away from his wife and children.  This assessment is supported in the record by the relative lack of medical record entries for anxiety while he was assigned to low stress supply duties while at Whiteman AFB.  Following discharge he worked full time and successfully raised four children.  He sustained a back injury on a job post service and was on disability for a period of time.  Over time he has developed a substantial number of non-service connected chronic medical illnesses and experienced ongoing job, financial and family stressors.  He presented to VA in 1997, was evaluated and initially rated at 10% for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that was judged to be service connected due to the history of anxiety documented in his service medical record.  Subsequent VA rating decisions have increased progressively to 100%, and then back to 70% for his GAD.

The preponderance of the evidence leads the BCMR Medical Consultant to conclude that the applicant’s discharge was neither improper nor unjust.  By today’s standards, the exact administrative procedures and diagnostic evaluations would most certainly have been different but likely only with the slightly different outcome of a discharge with severance pay and not medical retirement.

The complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPD recommends denial of the applicant’s request.  An examination of the applicant’s medical records shows that he was treated for various medical conditions throughout his military career; however, none were considered severe or grave enough that a medical evaluation conducted for the purpose of his ongoing discharge action, which states that he had problems adjusting to military service, and his troubles were further complicated by marital adjustment and the birth of his second child.  Medical records include a physical examination and medical history forms that show he was medically qualified for discharge with no disqualifying physical profiles.  Although the applicant was treated for chronic anxiety with psychosomatic complaints going back to his period on active duty, it does not appear the condition was considered unfitting at the time of his involuntary discharge.

The complete evaluation is at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

In his response to the Air Force evaluations, applicant indicates that his anxiety was not situational.  He indicates that he has not been able to hold a job since he left the military.  He feels that he should have been referred to a Medical Evaluation Board before his discharge.  He was not aware that he had an illness and thought that his problems were just job related.

The applicant’s complete evaluation is at Exhibit F.

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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.  We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.  Based on the evidence of record, we believe that the VA is providing the applicant with the appropriate compensation for his service connected disability.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of probable 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.

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number 02-00780 in Executive Session on 21 August 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 1 Mar 02, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Memorandum, BCMR Medical Consultant
                Dated 3 Jun 02.
    Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPPD, dated 26 Jun 02.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 3 Jul 02.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, Applicant, dated 16 Jul 02.