RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW 

SEPARATION DATE:  20090112 

 
NAME:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                                                                      BRANCH OF SERVICE:   ARMY 
CASE NUMBER:  PD1200372 
BOARD DATE:  20121116 
 
 
SUMMARY  OF  CASE:    Data  extracted  from  the  available  evidence  of  record  reflects  that  this 
covered  individual  (CI)  was  a  CPT/O-3  (14A,  Air  Defense  Officer)  medically  separated  for 
ulcerative colitis (UC).  She was treated, but did not improve adequately to fully perform her 
military  duties  or  meet  physical  fitness  standards.    She  was  issued  a  permanent  profile  and 
underwent a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB).  The MEB found her ulcerative colitis condition 
medically  unacceptable,  and  referred  her  to  a  Physical  Evaluation  Board  (PEB).    Two  other 
conditions (bilateral wrist ganglion cyst & intermittent left knee pain) were also listed on the DA 
Form 3947.  The PEB found the ulcerative colitis condition unfitting, and rated it 10% IAW the 
VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).  The wrist and knee conditions were adjudicated as 
not unfitting.  The CI accepted the PEB findings, and was medically separated with a 10% rating.   
 
 
CI  CONTENTION    “Chronic  illness  that  will  fluctuate  through  the  rest  of  my  life.    I  have  had 
several flare ups since leaving the military and recently had another flare up in Oct 2011-Jan 
2012.    The  flare  ups  prevented  me  from  attending  CCC;  hindering  my  military  career.    This 
currently still affects my daily activities.”    
 
 
SCOPE OF REVIEW:  The Board’s scope of review as defined in DoDI 6040.44, is limited to those 
conditions which were determined by the PEB to be specifically unfitting for continued military 
service; or, when requested by the CI, those condition(s) “identified but not determined to be 
unfitting by the PEB.”  The unfitting ulcerative colitis condition meets the criteria prescribed in 
DoDI 6040.44 for Board purview, and is accordingly addressed below.  No other condition is 
within the Board’s purview.  Any condition outside the Board’s defined scope of review may be 
eligible for future consideration by the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records. 
 
 
RATING COMPARISON:   
 

Army PEB – dated 20080924 

VA (2 mos. Post-Separation) – All Effective 20100223 

Condition 
Ulcerative Colitis  

Code 
7323 

Rating 
10% 

Bilat. Wrist Ganglion Cysts 

Not Unfitting 

Left Knee Pain 

Not Unfitting 

↓No Additional MEB/PEB Entries↓ 

Combined:  10% 

 

Condition 

Ulcerative Colitis 
Arthritis, Right Wrist 
Sprain, Left Wrist 
Scar, Left Knee 
Status Post ACL Reconstruction 
with Fibrositis and Arthritis, Left 
Knee 

Code 
7323 

5010-5215 
5299-5215 

7804 

Rating 
30% 
10% 
0% 
10% 

Exam 

20100726  
20100726 
20100726 
20100726 

5010-5260 

10% 

20100726 

None  
Combined:  50% 

 

 
 
ANALYSIS SUMMARY:  The Board acknowledges the sentiment expressed by the CI regarding 
the  significant  impact  that  her  ulcerative  colitis  condition  has  had  on  her  quality  of  life. 
However,  the  Disability  Evaluation  System  (DES)  has  neither  the  role  nor  the  authority  to 
compensate service members for future severity or potential complications of unfitting medical 
conditions.  This  role  and  authority  is  granted  by  Congress  to  the  Department  of  Veterans’ 
Affairs  (DVA).    The  Board  uses  DVA  evidence  proximal  to  separation  in  arriving  at  its 
recommendations, but  the  Board’s  authority  resides  in evaluating the  fairness  of  DES  fitness 
determinations  and  rating  decisions  at  the  time  of  separation.    Post-separation  evidence  is 
probative only to the extent that it reasonably reflects the disability and fitness implications at 
separation. 
 
Ulcerative  Colitis  (UC).    In  February  2005  after  exercising,  the  CI  had  an  episode  of  bloody 
diarrhea.  Her problem was initially diagnosed as hemorrhoids.  Ten months later (December 
2005) she was seen by gastroenterology and was  diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (proctitis).  
Many different treatment options were tried.  Eventually, it was found that her symptoms were 
controlled  with  low-dose  Imuran  (Azathioprine)  therapy.    Due  to her  chronic  gastrointestinal 
(GI)  disease,  an  MEB  was  initiated.    Her  MEB  clinical  evaluation  was  in  August  2008,  at 
Landstuhl  Regional  Medical  Center  (LRMC).    At  that  time,  she  was  asymptomatic  and  her  GI 
disease was in remission.  Physical examination of the abdomen was unremarkable, except for 
some tenderness in the left lower quadrant.  As noted above, she was medically separated from 
the Army on 12 January 2009, with a 10% disability rating.  On 26 July 2010, the CI had a VA 
Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam.  At that time, she was trying to get pregnant, and her 
medication had been switched from Imuran to Lialda (Mesalamine).  Physical examination of 
the abdomen was unremarkable.   
 
The Board carefully reviewed all evidentiary information available.  At the time of separation 
from service, the CI was taking low-dose Imuran therapy.  She was asymptomatic and her GI 
disease  was  in  remission.    IAW  VASRD  §4.114  (diagnostic  code  7323),  a  rating  of  10%  is 
warranted  when  ulcerative  colitis  is  moderate,  with  infrequent  exacerbations.    The  Board 
determined that at the time of separation, since she was asymptomatic and her GI disease was 
in remission, it is reasonable to conclude that her UC condition was moderate, with infrequent 
exacerbations.    The  Board  unanimously  recommends  a  disability  rating  of  10%  for  the  UC 
condition.  It is appropriately coded 7323, and meets criteria for the 10% rating level.  A higher 
rating of 30% is not warranted, unless the UC condition was moderately severe, with frequent 
exacerbations.  After due deliberation, considering all of the evidence and mindful of VASRD 
§4.3 (reasonable doubt), the Board concluded that there was insufficient cause to recommend 
a change in the PEB adjudication for the ulcerative colitis (proctitis) condition.     
 
 
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 
surmise  from  the  record  or  PEB  ruling  in  this  case  that  any  prerogatives  outside  the  VASRD 
were  exercised.    In  the  matter  of  the  ulcerative  colitis  (proctitis)  condition  and  IAW  VASRD 
§4.114, the Board unanimously recommends no change in the PEB adjudication.  There were no 
other conditions within the Board’s scope of review for consideration.   
 
 

 
 
 
 
RECOMMENDATION:  The Board, therefore, recommends that there be no recharacterization of 
the CI’s disability and separation determination, as follows:   
 

UNFITTING CONDITION 

VASRD CODE  RATING 

7323 

COMBINED 

10% 
10% 

Ulcerative colitis (proctitis) 

 
 
The following documentary evidence was considered: 
 
Exhibit A.  DD Form 294, dated 20120420, w/atchs 
Exhibit B.  Service Treatment Record 
Exhibit C.  Department of Veterans’ Affairs Treatment Record 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

           XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
           President 
           Physical Disability Board of Review 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

SFMR-RB 
 
 
 
 
MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, US Army Physical Disability Agency  
(TAPD-ZB /  ), 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA  22202-3557 
 
SUBJECT:  Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation for 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, AR20120021435 (PD201200372) 
 
 
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.  Under 
the authority of Title 10, United States Code, section 1554a,   I accept the Board’s 
recommendation and hereby deny the individual’s application.   
This decision is final.  The individual concerned, counsel (if any), and any Members of Congress 
who have shown interest in this application have been notified of this decision by mail. 
 
 BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY: 
 
 
 
 
Encl 
 
 
 
CF:  
(  ) DoD PDBR 
(  ) DVA 
 
 

     XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary 
         (Army Review Boards)