AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01849
Ratings for unfitting conditions will be reviewed in all cases. The initial VA Rating Decision (VARD) was based on the service treatment records (STR).The Board directs attention to its rating recommendationbased on the above evidence.The PEB and the VA rated pain right fifth metatarsal area as 5299-5279 (metatarsalgia) at 10%. The Board considered coding as 5283 (malununion of a metatarsal) but X-rays near separation indicated the fifth metatarsal had healed well with good alignment;...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01855
No other conditions were submitted by the MEB.The PEB adjudicated “chronic bilateral knee pain, rated as slight/constant”as unfitting and rated 10% in accordance with theUS Army Physical Disability Agency (USAPDA) pain policy.The CI made no appeals and was medically separateda10% disability rating. BOARD FINDINGS : IAW DoDI 6040.44, provisions of DoD or Military Department regulations or guidelines relied upon by the PEB will not be considered by the Board to the extent they were...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01856
There is insufficient evidence to support a finding of not unfitting for either knee.Therefore, it is reasonably justified that the CI be found unfit for continued military service in her MOS due to her left and right anterior knee pain with patellar crepitus and patellar apprehension condition. However, there is no evidence of any further examination in the record. Providing a correction to the individual’s separation document showing that the individual was separated by reason of...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01859
He reported having 4-5 headaches that month, but he was not in pain on that day. After due deliberation and considering all of the evidence, the Board recommends a disability rating of 10% for the migraine headache condition. Right Foot Pain Condition .
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01862
The Board also noted that relative contribution to impairment from the CI’s OCD, PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders diagnosed could not be separated, therefore the Board considered the mental health conditions together in its deliberations. The examiner also noted no suicidal thoughts. BOARD FINDINGS : IAW DoDI 6040.44, provisions of DoD or Military Department regulations or guidelines relied upon by the PEB will not be considered by the Board to the extent they were inconsistent with...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01864
The ratings for the unfitting chronic neck and lower back condition(s)is addressed below; and, no additional conditions are within the DoDI 6040.44 defined purview of the Board. The record in evidence reasonably support that both conditions were unfitting and should be rated separately. RECOMMENDATION : The Board, therefore, recommends that there be no recharacterization of the CI’s disability and separation determination, as follows:
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01867
The rating for the unfitting left C5 radiculopathy condition and the cervical osteoarthritis is addressed below;no additional conditions are within theBoard’s defined DoDI 6040.44 purview.Any conditions or contention not requested in this application, or otherwise outside the Board’s defined scope of review, remain eligible for future consideration by the Board for Correction of Naval Records. Left C5 Radiculopathy Condition . The Board directs attention to its rating recommendationbased...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01868
No other conditions were submitted by the MEB.The PEBadjudicatedchronic LLQ pain s/p inguinal hernia repair condition as unfitting, existed prior to service (EPTS) reduced by 0%, and rated 10% with application of the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).The CI made no appeals, and was medically separatedwith a 10% disability rating. The examiner diagnosed chronic LLQ pain s/p inguinal hernia repair.The MEB physical exam at the time of the NARSUM demonstrated mild to...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01869
The irritable bowel syndrome condition, characterized as not meeting standards was forwarded to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) IAW AR 40-501.The MEB forwarded no other conditions to the PEB.ThePEB adjudicated irritable bowel syndrome as unfitting, rated 10%.The CI made no appeals and was medically separated. The VA rating determination dated 21 December 2005 stated“During VA examination ( dated 20050912; four months after separation ) you stated that you use Imodium about 8 times a day...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01873
Migraine Headaches Condition . There is documentation that the CI had migraines prior to entry into the service; however they worsened during his service time. Physical Disability Board of Review
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01874
She also alleged emotional, physical and sexual abuse,and stalking,prior to entry in the service (age 19) by a boyfriend.The admission mental status exam(MSE) noted depressed mood, normal thought process, and no auditory or visual hallucinations.The discharge diagnoses on Axis I: MDD;Axis II: Cluster B traits (borderline, histrionic, narcissistic and/or antisocial); and, Global Assessment ofFunctioning (GAF) of 65 (some mild symptoms or impairment).At the narrative summary NARSUMexamon 24...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01875
The informal PEB adjudicated chronic pain right (dominant) shoulder, S/P-surgery, and chronic back pain, S/P T1-T5 posterior fusion for T3 burst fracture without neurologic deficit and range-of-motion (ROM) limited by pain, both as unfitting rated at 10% and 0% respectively, citing criteria of the US Army Physical Disability Agency (USAPDA) pain policyand the Veteran’s Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).The remaining conditions were determined to be not unfitting and not...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01880
The Board’s initial charge in this case was therefore directed at determining if the PEB’s combined adjudication was justified in lieu of separate ratings.To that end, the evidence for the bilateral knees, left hip, low back, and left shoulder conditions are presented separately with attendant recommendations regarding separate unfitness and separate rating as indicated.The right-handed CI was given a permanent lower extremity (L3) profile on 9 September 2003for bilateral knee pain...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01881
The MEB forwarded severe left shoulder pain, status post (s/p) surgery as medically unacceptable IAW AR 40-501.The MEB forwarded no other conditions for Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) adjudication.The PEB adjudicated chronic pain left shoulder as unfitting, rated 10%, with application of the Veteran’s Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) and theUS Army Physical Disability Agency (USAPDA) pain policy.The CI made no appeals, and was medically separated with a 10% disability...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01888
The Board could not find evidence in the STR that documented any significant interference of bilateral leg pain with the performance of duties at the time of separation (separate from knee pain); nor were there any physical findings documented by the MEB or VA examiners which would logically be associated with significant disability. After due deliberation, Board members agreed that the evidence does not support a conclusion that the functional impairment from bilateral leg pain was...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01891
Separation Date: 20050826 The MEB also identified and forwarded posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic, as medically acceptable.The Informal PEB adjudicated the right mandibular defect as unfitting, rated 20% with application of the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). There was clear documentation in the service treatment record that the CI had a right mandibular body (not mandibular ramus) defect and the oralsurgeon MEB addendum reported that the panorex...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01894
CI CONTENTION : “Medical Board combined Right and Left conditions as one and left off pes planus from diagnostic evaluation. All members agreed, however, that separate ratings (unilateral or bilateral) under separate codes was not compliant with VASRD §4.14 (avoidance of pyramiding), which specifies that “the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses are to be avoided.” Specifically a separate compensable rating for pes planus, as contended by the CI and conferred by...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01895
The Board judged that the migraine headache and mild spondylosis conditions recorded in the MEB were integral, comorbid components of the FM condition and could not be reviewed separately IAW VASRD §4.14. Additionally, the CI reported upper arm pain, hip, back, and buttock pain. SUBJECT: Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation for AR20130019762 (PD201201895)I have reviewed the enclosed Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review (DoD PDBR)...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01903
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGSPHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEWNAME: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX CASE: PD1201903BRANCH OF SERVICE: AIR FORCEBOARD DATE: 20130509 Post-separation evidence is probative to the Board’s recommendations only to the extent that it reasonably reflects the disability at the time of separation.Any conditions or contention not requested in this application, or otherwise outside the Board’s defined scope of review, remain eligible for future consideration by the Air Force Board for...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01905
Ratings for unfitting conditions will be reviewed in all cases. The VA then rated this condition separately for 10% under code 7804-7903 for scars and hypothyroidism retroactive to the date of separation. In the matter of the contended Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and secondary hypothyroidism conditions, the Board unanimously recommends no change from the PEB determination as not unfitting.There were no other conditions within the Board’s scope of review for consideration.
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01906
A third and final MEB in October 2002 forwarded the bilateral knee condition, characterized as bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, status post(s/p) left patellar tendon to the Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB) IAW 1850.4E.The MEB also identified and forwarded left shoulder superior labral tear, s/p arthroscopic repair and left hip greater trochanteric bursitis for IPEB adjudication. The IPEB adjudicated bilateral patellofemoral syndrome (PFS) as unfitting, rated 10%, with application...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01913
The PEB adjudicated “left scaphoid fracture non-union, surgically treated”as unfitting, rated 10%, under criteria of the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).The CI made no appeals and he was medically separated. Any conditions or contention not requested in this application or otherwise outside the Board’s defined scope of review remain eligible for consideration by the Board for Correction of Naval Records.The Board acknowledges the CI’s information regarding the...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01914
At TDRL entry, the PEB adjudicated the CI’s asthma condition as unfitting, and coded 6602 (bronchial asthma) at 30%.The Board deliberated whether the CI’s asthma condition met the 30%, or the 60% 6602 rating at the time of TDRL entry. BOARD FINDINGS : IAW DoDI 6040.44, provisions of DoD or Military Department regulations or guidelines relied upon by the PEB will not be considered by the Board to the extent they were inconsistent with the VASRD in effect at the time of the adjudication.The...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01915
He reported headaches for a short time afterwards that subsided after recovering.The CI also reported being placed on medication for seizure prevention but that he never had a seizure and the medication was discontinued 6 months after injury. I have reviewed the enclosed Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review (DoD PDBR) recommendation and record of proceedings pertaining to the subject individual. I direct that all the Department of the Army records of the individual...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01929
IAW DoDI 6040.44, the Board must use the VASRD coding and rating standards which were in effect at the time of the CI’s separation. Physical Disability Board of Review I direct that all the Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected accordingly no later than 120 days from the date of this memorandum.
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01933
No other conditions were submitted by the MEB.The PEB adjudicated lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) as unfitting and rated 10% with application of the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). The Board must recommend a disability rating in accordance with VA rating guidelines in effect on the date of the CI’s separation and the Board did so. BOARD FINDINGS : IAW DoDI 6040.44, provisions of DoD or Military Department regulations or guidelines relied upon by the PEB...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01934
The left knee condition was characterized as “chronic left knee pain status post lateral release” and “iliotibial band syndrome.” These two conditions were forwarded to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB), IAW SECNAVINST 1850.4E. Other PEB Condition . The other PEB condition was, “Chronic left knee pain, status post lateral release.” This condition was adjudicated by the PEB as Category II (related to and contributing to the unfitting ITBS condition).The Board determined that this...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01940
The psychologist diagnosed mood disorder NOS, social phobia, alcohol dependence in early remission, personality disorder NOS and assigned a Global Assessment of Functioning(GAF) of 70.The service treatment record (STR) demonstrated no evidence of intensive mental health treatment, no history of mental health hospitalization, no ER visits for mental health, no episodes of psychosis and no evidence of active suicidal thoughts. The VA determined the CI’s conditions not service-connected; and,...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01941
The left hip was painful to motion. RECOMMENDATION : The Board, therefore, recommends that there be no recharacterization of the CI’s disability and separation determination, as follows: SUBJECT: Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation for AR20130019920 (PD201201941)I have reviewed the enclosed Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review (DoD PDBR) recommendation and record of proceedings pertaining to the subject individual.
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01950
The MEB forwarded the chronic right shoulder pain s/p excision of soft tissue mass right superior sulcus conditionto the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) IAW AR 40-501. Post-Separation)ConditionCodeRatingConditionCodeRatingExam Right Shoulder Pain s/p Excision Soft Tissue Mass5099-50030%Painful Right Shoulder s/p Schwannoma Excision520310%20020215No Additional MEB/PEB EntriesDisfiguring Tender Scar of Right Upper Chest780030%20020215Residual Numbness & Tenderness s/p...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01952
No other conditions were submitted by the MEB.The PEB adjudicated chronic bilateral knee pain as unfitting, rated 10%citing criteria of the US Army Physical Disability Agency (USAPDA) pain policy.The CI made no appeals and was medically separated. Chronic Bilateral Knee Pain Condition . SUBJECT: Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation for AR20130018485 (PD201201952)I have reviewed the enclosed Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review (DoD...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01958
The chronic active hepatitis b condition, characterized as chronic active hepatitis B infectivity with mild chronic hepatitis on pathology was forwarded to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) IAW SECNAVINST 1850.4E.Two other conditions, in the rating chart below, were also identified and forwarded by the MEB. Chronic Active Hepatitis B Condition. Physical Disability Board of Review
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01959
The MEB exam demonstratedno tenderness to palpation (TTP), no spasm, normal gait, normal heel/toe walk, limited extension with a pressure sensation at his low back, normal flexion, negative straight leg raise (SLR), no limb length discrepancy and normal neuromuscular findings of the lower extremities.At the VA Compensation and Pension exam,2 months prior to separation, the CI reported constant pain at the lower back which radiated to the posterior aspect of each leg. ROM was within normal...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01961
The rating for the unfitting lumbar spine condition is addressed below; and, no additional conditions are within the DoDI 6040.44 defined purview of the Board. First VA evaluation was dated 20071003 (26 months post-separation). RECOMMENDATION : The Board, therefore, recommends that there be no recharacterization of the CI’s disability and separation determination, as follows:
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01962
The CI was then medically separated with a 10% disability rating. A PT note on 26 March 2004 reported that the CI continued to experience left hip pain. In the matter of the chronic pain both hips, left greater than right condition and IAW VASRD §4.71a, the Board unanimously recommends no change in the PEB adjudication.There were no other conditions within the Board’s scope of review for consideration.
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01963
7/10 knee pain. The Board noted there was no compensable loss of motion or painful motion on the MEB exam, but a positive DeLuca with 5 degrees of loss of flexion on repetition a month prior to separation on the VA exam. BOARD FINDINGS : IAW DoDI 6040.44, provisions of DoD or Military Department regulations or guidelines relied upon by the PEB will not be considered by the Board to the extent they were inconsistent with the VASRD in effect at the time of the adjudication.The Board did not...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01966
MINORITY OPINION This Board member recommends a 40% rating for severe limitation of motion of the lumbar spine based on the pain limited flexion of 10 degrees at the MEB NARSUM exam and pain limited flexion of 30 degrees at the VA C&P exam. The MEB NARSUM exam documented lumbar flexion that was limited to only 10 degrees by pain, which indicates a severe limitation of motion. Although the VA C&P examination was after separation, it was actually closer in time to the date of separation, and...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01969
It was also noted that the normal ROM cited by the examiner are not the VASRD standards. After due deliberation, considering all of the evidence and mindful of VASRD §4.3 (Reasonable doubt), the Board recommends a disability rating of 20% for the chronic mechanical LBP condition, coded 5243.The Board noted that the contention by the CI was vague and that the VA later determined there to be a service-connected radiculopathy. The neurological examinations, performed by the MEB examiner and...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01972
There are no additional examinations available for review until a 16 December 2010 pre-operative examination for the previously recommended fusion, over 3 years after separation. It was determined that this represented natural progression of the disease and it was noted that the CI had been recommended to have this surgery in 2006 by the first neurosurgeon and advised by the second, who did the microdiscectomy in 2007, that she might still need the fusion at a later date.The Board then...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01973
The FPEB’s DA Form 199 cited “symptoms are controlled by continuous medication” as a 10% criterion of the Veteran’s Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD); and “rated as mild social and industrial impairment” referencing AR 635-40 (derived in turn from Department of Defense Instruction [DoDI] 1332.39).The GERD condition was determined to be not unfitting by the IPEB, but not specifically adjudicated by the FPEB (assumed to be an erroneous omission and a de facto adjudication as not...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01974
Chronic Left Hip Pain . However, a specialist did diagnose a soft tissue LBP condition 1 October 2002 as separate from the left hip pain The Board agreed that based on the evidence in the record both the left hip and LBP conditions were reasonably considered to be separately unfitting conditions at the time of separation. Chronic left hip pain condition: the VA rated the left hip pain condition as 8529 (neuropathy, external cutaneous nerve of the thigh) at 10%.
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01975
No other conditions were submitted by the MEB.The PEB adjudicated “ankylosing spondylitis, associated with bilateral sacroiilitis and hip pain” as unfitting, rated 20% in accordance with the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).The CI made no appeals, and was medically separatedwith a 20% disability rating. The Board opined that in the absence of systemic symptoms of an active process,the AS condition was best rated based on the residual limitation of lumbar spine...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01977
SCOPEOFREVIEW : TheBoard’sscopeofreviewisdefinedinDoDI6040.44, Enclosure3, paragraph5.e.(2). RATINGCOMPARISON : ServiceIPEB– Dated20060123 VA- (3Mos.Pre-Separation) Condition Code Rating Condition Code Rating Exam Chronic LBP Secondary toDDDw/L4-5,L5-S1DiscBulge& Facet Arthropathy, w/oNeurologic Deficit, ROM Limited by Pain, Positive 5299-5242 10% SUBJECT: Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation for AR20130019923 (PD201201977)I have reviewed the enclosed...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01978
The conditions, characterized as “bilateral retropatellar pain syndrome with subjective ankle pain,” “neck pain,” and“acute chronic low back pain” were forwarded to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) IAW AR 40-501.No other conditions were submitted by the MEB.The informal PEBadjudicated the “neck, low back, bilateral knee and ankle pain with subjective symptoms only, x-rays and exam essentially normal, rated (and diagnosed) as myofascial pain syndrome” conditionas unfitting, with likely...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01982
The left knee condition, characterized as “ left knee pain and osteoarthritis, status post (s/p) arthroscopic debridement” was forwarded to the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) IAW AR40-501. The PEB adjudicated “ tricompartmental osteoarthritis left knee with meniscal tear/degeneration” as unfitting, rated 10%citing criteria of the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).The PEB adjudicated the three other conditions, obesity, hypertension, and allergic rhinosinusitis as...
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012 01983
Left Thigh Pain Due to Cavernous Hemangioma Left Thigh Pain Due to Cavernous Hemangioma . I have carefully reviewed the evidence of record and the recommendation of the Board.
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012-00003
The PEB adjudicated the right and left shoulder SLAP lesions as unfitting, rated 10% each, with application of the Veteran’s Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD). After being discharged because of an injury to both shoulders that is service connected, I have had an additional 7 surgeries. The MEB exam, as noted above, reported painful motion beginning at 60 degrees of flexion and abduction, but ROM limits were not clearly defined.
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012-00004
Right Ankle Condition . While service treatment records and the commander’s statement documented intermittent bilateral ankle pain and swelling, the left ankle did not appear as a diagnosed condition in the core DES nor was it clinically or occupationally active during the MEB period. I have carefully reviewed the evidence of record and the recommendation of the Board.
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012-00005
Asthma Condition . Finally, while the Board did not have the childhood records in evidence for review, the Board concluded that both the PEB and FPEB documented childhood asthma after reviewing these records and represented this evidence accurately. The Board does not have the authority under DoDI 6040.44 to render fitness or rating recommendations for any conditions not considered by the DES.
AF | PDBR | CY2012 | PD2012-00007
He was issued a permanent L3 profile and underwent a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB). The Board finally acknowledges the CI's contention suggesting that service ratings should have been conferred for other conditions documented at the time of separation and for conditions not diagnosed while in the service (but later determined to be service-connected by the DVA). The Board unanimously agrees that there were no other conditions, specifically the contended PTSD condition, eligible for Board...