RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-02702 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: The fitness assessment scores he received on 23 Apr 10, 27 Oct 10, 14 Jan 11 and 14 Apr 11, be removed from the Air Force Fitness Management System (AFFMS). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He attended a mandatory primary care manager (PCM) appointment on 4 May 11, and his PCM indicated/documented on his AF Form 108, Physical Fitness Education and Intervention Processing, “Member has been evaluated and has a medical condition precluding the achievement of a passing fitness score.” His PCM has written a memorandum documenting treatment of his medical conditions over the time period from Apr 10 to present, that specifies he was “unable to utilize the maximum benefit of weight control via cardiovascular exercise.” He recently began an exercise program that is in line with his Physical Training (PT) restrictions and should allow him to achieve and maintain a waist line that meets Air Force standards of weight and fitness. In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his AFFMS Individual Fitness Assessment History, AF Form 108, e-mail correspondence, and a memorandum from his PCM. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force. Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts in this Record of Proceedings. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: USAF/A1PP recommends denial. A1PP states this request was reviewed by the Aerospace Medicine Policy subject matter expert (SME) from AF/SG3 and A1PP and both do not concur with the applicant’s request to remove his three “Unsatisfactory” Fitness Assessment scores from AFFMS. Even though the applicant had a running profile, he was still responsible for maintaining waist measurement standards which could have been achieved via other cardiovascular means and by diet alteration. Additionally, the applicant’s fitness history illustrates a long term pattern of borderline/unfit performance that shows minimal effort to improve. The complete A1PP evaluation is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: He suffers from various recent medical afflictions that have hindered his ability to effectively lose weight to meet the new abdominal standards, that were not included as part of his original request. His medical conditions are crucial to the ability to achieve the abdominal circumference imposed by the Air Force in Jul 2010. The alleged long term pattern of borderline/unfit performance can be directly attributed to his unmanaged obstructive sleep apnea that was initially diagnosed in 1997. There are a multitude of medical studies that show the correlation of inadequate and disrupted sleep associated with obstructive sleep apnea, that conclude weight gain and metabolic instability are a complication and/or result of his current diagnosed condition. In Oct 10, after ineffectively and unsuccessfully losing weight or waist measurement, he sought medical treatment from his PCM. He modified his diet in-line with nutritional guidance provided by the local health and wellness center nutritionist. Recent data suggests that treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) will decrease not only leptin levels but also central obesity, independent of any overall change in body weight after treatment. This can be substantiated in some portion to the successful reduction in his waistline and weight as evidenced in his most recent satisfactory fitness assessment dated 13 Jul 11, where he lost a significant four inches in his waistline, since his Oct 10 unsatisfactory assessment. In addition to the obstructive sleep apnea, he was also treated for chronic knee pain, and diagnosed with Stage 3 Osteoarthritis in his left knee. Despite these limitations, he pursued PT regularly, and was recognized as one of the most avid participants in his unit’s fitness program prior to his surgical procedure. His last medical affliction, compounded with obstructive sleep apnea and his osteoarthritis, was a torn cartridge in his left wrist, that required a surgical procedure in Jan 11, which is documented in his medical records. He asks the Board to consider his medical conditions and complications and how they have negatively impacted his ability to meet the Air Force’s fitness requirements in relation to the new abdominal circumference, and how his long term affliction of obstructive sleep apnea has notably affected his fitness assessment scores in previous years. He considers his fitness assessment results an injustice since his PCM can only grant an exception in abdominal circumference in cases of pregnancy or abdominal surgery, neither which apply to him. The applicant's 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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. After thoroughly reviewing the evidence of record and noting the applicant’s contentions, we are not persuaded that he has been the victim of an error or injustice. In this respect we note the applicant was under a modified testing program which excluded cardiovascular assessment and pushups; despite the modified testing protocol, the applicant failed to attain passing scores. He states that OSA and other medical conditions prevented him from attaining a passing score. However, we find the evidence submitted in support of his appeal is insufficient to conclude that his medical conditions y interfered with his ability to pass his fitness evaluations. Therefore 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. Accordingly, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. _________________________________________________________________ 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-2011-02702 in Executive Session on 1 Dec 11, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 21 Jun 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, HQ USAF/A1PP, undated. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Aug 11. Exhibit D. Letter, Applicant, dated 9 Sep 11, w/atchs. Panel Chair