RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-00455 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her 20 Dec 2012 Fitness Assessment (FA) be declared void and removed from the Air Force Fitness Management System (AFFMS). ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: She failed the sit-up component of the FA resulting in an overall unsatisfactory rating. The failed FA is an injustice as she is currently pending medical care for a chronic hip condition. Her Primary Care Manager (PCM) signed an AF Form 108, Physical Fitness Education and Intervention Processing, stating she had a preexisting medical condition that affected her ability to pass the FA. In support of her request, the applicant provides a copy of Air Force Form 108. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the grade of senior airman (E-4). The applicant’s request was considered by the Fitness Assessment Appeals Board (FAAB) on 6 Nov 2013. The FAAB disapproved the request due to no medical documentation to support her claim and forwarded it to the Board for consideration (Exhibit C). On 16 Dec 2013, she requested assistance from her Congressman stating that her physician signed off on the FA failure stating it was due to a medical issue. She submitted the medical documentation and recently received a preliminary decision that the FA would not be removed. She has attempted to get her attorney as well as an Area Defense Counsel to advise her. The FA failure has adversely affected her and she is concerned that submitting the appeal on her own is a fruitless matter. The applicant’s most recent FA results are as follows: Date Composite Score Rating 13 Jul 2013 90.67 Excellent (Exempt: Cardio, Sit-ups) 20 Dec 2012 65.00 Unsatisfactory (Exempt: Cardio) 29 Jun 2012 100 Excellent (Exempt: Cardio, Push-ups, Sit-ups) 22 Dec 2011 100 Excellent (Exempt: Cardio, Push-ups, Sit- ups 10 Jun 2011 97.00 Excellent (Exempt: Push-ups, Sit-ups) 16 Dec 2010 97.89 Excellent (Exempt: Push-ups) 15 Mar 2010 86.50 Good The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility, which is included at Exhibit B. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSIM recommends denial. In accordance with Air Force Instruction 36-2905, Air Force Fitness Program, paragraph 10, an airman who becomes injured or ill during the FA and is unable to complete all required components will have the option of being evaluated at the Medial Treatment Facility (MTF) but the test will still count unless rendered invalid by the unit commander. The applicant did provide an AF Form 108 stating she had a medical condition precluding her from achieving a passing fitness score; however, there is no documentation from the unit commander invalidating the FA failure. The complete DPSIM evaluation is at Exhibit B. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant responded stating that she has a chronic health condition that affected her ability to pass the FA. She was diagnosed with sacroiliitis affecting her hip, chronic myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. Her physician signed off on the Air Force Form 108 stating she had a medical condition that prevented her from passing the test. She disagrees with the Air Force Advisory and provides documentation from her physicians. She is seeing several specialists and is undergoing a medical review board. She is on strict profiles which further limit her fitness capabilities. Her squadron commander issued her a Letter of Counseling (LOC) but then dropped it as a result of her medical condition. Her attorney advised her that the Board was the only authority capable of removing the failed FA. She believes her commander would have invalidated the failed FA if he knew he could have removed it. She struggles on a daily basis as a result of her medical conditions and pushed herself too hard on the day of the FA. Her medical board will likely address these issues but it is unfair and discriminatory that the failed FA not be removed in light of her health problems. She has not failed any test since then, and never failed any other test before the Dec 2012 FA failure. She has faithfully served the Air Force for nearly four years; she will complete her master’s degree and served in the Honor Guard. She is potentially facing medical separation and should be afforded the opportunity to have her records corrected. She provides letters from her physicians, AF Form 108, AFFMS information, response to the LOC and Standard Form 600, Chronological Record of Medical Care. The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at Exhibit F. ________________________________________________________________ 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 warranting partial relief. We note the Air Force office of primary responsibility recommends denial stating there is no evidence that her commander invalidated the FA. However, it is our opinion that the medical evidence provided by the applicant substantiates that she had a preexisting medical condition which precluded her from successfully passing the sit-up portion of the 20 Dec 2012 FA. While the applicant requests the entire FA be removed, the evidence only supports exempting the sit-up portion. Accordingly, we recommend the applicant’s record be corrected to the extent indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that the sit-up component of her Fitness Assessment, dated 20 Dec 2012, be amended to reflect “exempt” in the Air Force Fitness Management System. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-00455 in Executive Session on 9 Jan 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following pertinent evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2 Jan 2013, w/atch. Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 17 Sep 2013, w/atch. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 6 Nov 2013. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Dec 2013. Exhibit E. Congressional Inquiry, dated 16 Dec 2013, w/atchs. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 16 Dec 2013, w/atchs. 1 2