RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02575 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His Fitness Assessment dated 15 Jun 11 be removed from the Air Force Fitness Management System (AFFMS). _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He was diagnosed with tendonitis in both Achilles tendons and was prescribed medication. When he took his FA test he had a “panic attack” and failed to meet the minimum sit-ups. He did not have adequate time for the medication to be in his system in order to receive its full effects. His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant’s last five FA scores are as follows: DATE SCORE 16 Dec 10 UNSATISFACTORY 23 Mar 11 UNSATISFACTORY * 15 Jun 11 UNSATISFACTORY 31 Aug 11 EXCELLENT 9 Mar 12 SATISFACTORY *Contested FA score. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force, which are at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIM recommends denial. The applicant was asked to provide additional documentation such as copies of AF Form 422, Physical Profile Serial Report, AF Form 108, Physical Fitness Education and Intervention Processing, and AF Form 469, Duty Limiting Condition Report, and the signed score sheet and questionnaire; however, the applicant did not provide the requested documents. The complete DPSIM evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit B. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 15 Oct 12 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this office has received no response. _________________________________________________________________ ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: Pursuant to the Board’s request, the BCMR Medical Consultant reviewed the evidence of record to determine whether or not the applicant’s claim that a “panic attack” could have prevented him from completing the required number of sit-ups and cautions the Board on setting a precedent of excusing FA failure based on alleged test anxiety or panic symptoms, for which, in the applicant’s case, he contends he would have passed the FA if his medications had more time to be in his system. Further, there is no causal or mitigating relationship between the side effects or therapeutic level of the applicant’s prescribed medication and an emotional state, which the applicant characterizes as “panic attacks.” Although the applicant was prescribed Zoloft to treat his anxiety, which does have the potential side effect of producing dystonic muscular functioning, which can be confused with a “panic attack” and could interfere with performing sit- ups; however, it was not prescribed until after the contested FA failure. The Medical Consultant sees no causal or mitigating relationship between the side effects or therapeutic level of the applicant’s prescribed medication, meloxicam and an emotional state, that he claims caused his “panic attack” [when he “froze up”], which resulted in failing his FA test in June 2011. The complete BCMR Medical Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the BCMR Medical Consultant evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 1 Mar 13 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this date, this office has received no response. _________________________________________________________________ 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. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case. While the applicant contends he experienced a “panic attack” due to the medication he was prescribed for having tendonitis in both Achilles tendons, we do not find the evidence provided sufficient to conclude that his medication was the cause of his FA failure. Furthermore, there is no documentation to substantiate his claim that his “panic attack” was the direct result of the medication he was prescribed. In view of this, and noting there was no documentation located or provided that indicates the applicant was unable to complete the contested FA, 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-02575 in Executive Session on 18 Dec 12 and 12 Feb 13, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence for Docket Number BC-2012- 02575 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 21 Apr 12, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 3 Oct 12. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Oct 12. Exhibit D. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 6 Feb 13. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBC, dated 1 Mar 13.