RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-00748 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His honorable discharge be changed to a medical discharge. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: His medical records from as early as 1971 indicate a diagnosis of depression and anxiety disorder which should have been the reason for his discharge. In support of his request, the applicant provides a DD Form 293, Application for the Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States, a Department of Veterans Affairs Rating Decision and documents extracted from his military personnel records. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 24 April 1968. The applicant was honorably discharged from active duty on 17 March 1972 under the provisions of AFM 39-10 (Separation Upon Expiration of Term of Service for Convenience of Government, Minority, Dependency, and Hardship). He served 3 years, 10 months and 24 days on active duty with 11 months and 9 days of foreign service. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from the applicant’s military personnel records, are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of the Air Force at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The AFBCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial. The Medical Consultant states the applicant has shown no evidence of a mental impairment at the time of separation that would warrant establishment of a medical hold for further evaluation and processing through the Disability Evaluation System (DES). The presence of medical conditions that were not unfitting while in service, and were not the cause of separation or retirement, that later progressed in severity causing disability resulting in service connected DVA compensation is not a basis to grant retroactive military disability discharge or disability compensation. The applicant has not met the burden of proof of an error or injustice that warrants the desired change of record. The AFBCMR Medical Consultant’s complete evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant reviewed the evaluation and states the DVA investigated and concluded that while in Vietnam – an incoming rocket attack was the stressor event that resulted in his 40 year battle with depression and PTSD. He left Vietnam with 100% disability as shown through his behavior, medical diagnosis, and loss of rank prior to discharge. If he was an Iraq veteran, this would be a foregone conclusion because it has been learned from cases like his to put safeguards in place. The applicant's complete response, with attachments, is at Exhibit E. _________________________________________________________________ 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 an error or injustice. After a thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s submission, we believe that relief is not warranted and the applicant has not provided any evidence which would lead us to believe otherwise. His contentions are duly noted; however, the detailed comments provided by the AFBCMR Medical Consultant adequately address these allegations. Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the AFBCMR Medical Consultant and adopt his rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has failed to sustain his burden of proof that he has suffered either an error or an injustice. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2010-00748 in Executive Session on 14 January 2011, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2010-00748 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 February 2010, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 30 November 2010, w/atch. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 December 2010. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, not dated, w/atchs.