RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW 

   SEPARATION DATE:  20020731 

 
NAME:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                                                            BRANCH OF SERVICE:  ARMY 
CASE NUMBER:  PD1200642 
BOARD DATE:  20121025 
 
 
SUMMARY  OF  CASE:    Data  extracted  from  the  available  evidence  reflects  that  this  covered 
individual  (CI)  was  an  active  duty  SPC/E-4,  (31U,  Communications  Specialist)  medically 
separated  for  Type  II  diabetes  mellitus  (DM).    The  CI  was  diagnosed  with  Type  II  DM  during 
basic training in 1997.  Treatment with oral medication was instituted and he was lost to follow 
up  until  October  2000  when  he  presented  to  the  emergency  department  with  uncontrolled 
diabetes.  Oral medications were restarted, he underwent a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) in 
November 2000 and subsequent Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) in January 2001 which found 
him fit and he returned to duty.  In March 2001 he was sent home early from a deployment 
because  of  symptoms  due  to  poorly  controlled  DM.    He  could  not  meet  the  physical 
requirements  of  his  Military  Occupational  Specialty  (MOS)  and  was  issued  a  permanent  P3 
profile.    He  was  then  referred  for  a  second  MEB  which  forwarded  Type  II  DM  as  the  only 
medically unacceptable condition for Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) adjudication.  On 8 May 
2002, the PEB adjudicated the DM, Type II, as unfitting and rated it 20%, with application of the 
Veteran’s Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD).  The CI made no appeals, and was 
medically separated with a 20% disability rating.   
 
 
CI CONTENTION: The CI states:  “Type 2 Mellitus Diabetes” 
 
 
SCOPE OF REVIEW:  The Board wishes to clarify that the scope of its review as defined in DoDI 
6040.44, Enclosure 3, paragraph 5.e.(2) 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 ratings 
for  unfitting  conditions  will  be  reviewed  in  all  cases.    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 Army Board for Correction of Military Records. 
 
 
RATING COMPARISON: 
 

Service PEB – Dated 20020508 

VA (2 Mos. Pre-Separation) – Effective Date 20020801 

Code 

Rating 

Condition 

Code 

Rating 

Exam 

Condition 

Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, 
Uncontrolled on Oral 
Hypoglycemic Agent & 
Restricted Diet 

↓No Additional MEB/PEB Entries↓ 

Combined:  20% 

*10% deduction for Diabetes that existed prior to service  
 
 

7913 

20% 

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 

7913 

10%* 

20020610 

 Not Service-Connected x 4 
Combined:  10% 

20020610 

ANALYSIS SUMMARY:  The Board’s authority as defined in DoDI 6044.40, however, resides in 
evaluating the fairness of Disability Evaluation System rating determinations for the disability 
existing at the time of separation.  Post-separation evidence therefore is probative only to the 
extent that it reasonably reflects the disability at the time of separation.  The Board utilizes VA 
evidence proximal to separation in arriving at its recommendations; and, DoDI 6040.44 defines 
a 12 month interval for special consideration to post-separation evidence. 
 
Type II Diabetes Mellitus.  The narrative summary prepared 4 months prior to separation notes 
the initial diagnoses of DM during basic training in 1997.  At that time, the CI was started on 
oral medications and then was lost to follow-up and received no formal medical therapy from 
1997  until  2000.    In  October  2000,  he  presented  to  the  emergency  room  with  symptoms  of 
uncontrolled  diabetes.    The  CI  was  started  on  the  oral  medication  Metformin.    He  was 
determined to be fit for duty by a PEB on 29 January 2001 as he was controlled on Metformin 
alone.    Since  that  time,  the  CI’s  DM  became  uncontrolled  and  a  second  oral  medication, 
Glyburide,  was  added  to  the  Metformin.    In  March  2001,  the  CI  was  returned  early  from  a 
deployment  because  he  was  unable  to  participate  in  any  of  the  training  exercises  due  to 
elevated  blood  sugars.    The  CI’s  medical  regimen  was  adjusted,  he  was  sent  to  a  diabetic 
education  refresher  course  and  he  was  monitored.    He  had  periods  of  non-compliance  with 
medical recommendations and when laboratory results indicated poorly controlled diabetes on 
his  current  oral  hypoglycemics  an  MEB  was  re-initiated.    Examination  revealed  a  heavy  set 
male.    Ophthalmology  evaluation  dated  15  March  2002  revealed  no  evidence  of  diabetic 
retinopathy.  Significant laboratory results were normal urine protein, blood urea nitrogen and 
creatinine.  Fasting blood sugar was 246 and hemoglobin A1C was 11.5. 
 
At the MEB exam the CI reported diabetes and hypertension, frequent or painful urination, high 
or low blood sugar and sugar or protein in urine on the DD Form 2807.  The MEB physical exam 
noted normal mono-filament testing of feet and normal blood pressure.  “Soldier with known 
Type II DM, unable to control blood sugar in field environment for MEB”. 
 
The  VA  Compensation  and  Pension  (C&P)  exam  approximately  2  months  prior  to  separation 
documented  “erratic”  follow  up  medical  care  for  DM  condition  and  no  hospitalizations  but 
several emergency room evaluations for hyperglycemia.  Diet restriction was also mentioned 
and some limited activity secondary to symptoms of weakness and fatigue.  Current treatment 
was with two oral medications with each one taken twice daily.  Examination revealed normal 
blood  pressure,  normal  non-dilated  fundiscopic  exam  and  intact  sensation  to  light  touch  to 
distal lower extremities.  It also referenced the MEB for all pertinent diagnostic and clinical tests 
and that a micro albumin test was performed and revealed no renal insufficiency. 
 
The Board directs attention to its rating recommendation based on the above evidence.  The 
PEB  utilized  VASRD  code  7913,  diabetes  mellitus,  and  awarded  a  rating  of  20%  for  DM 
uncontrolled on oral hypoglycemic and restricted diet.  The VA utilized the same code but rated 
it 10% after a stated deduction of 10% for pre-service DM that was controlled with diet and 
exercise alone until October 2000.  The PEB did not adjudicate the DM condition as existed prior 
to service.  The VASRD rating criteria for DM requires consideration of diet restrictions, activity 
regulation, insulin requirement, hospitalizations, frequency of required provider visits for care 
and complications not compensable if separately evaluated.  In this case, the CI required oral 
medication use along with diet restrictions which meets the criteria for a 20% evaluation.  The 
next higher rating, 40%, requires the addition of activity regulation which is not present in this 
case.  The CI did not have any hospitalizations or complications secondary to DM at the time of 
separation.  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 DM, Type II 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 DM, Type II condition and IAW VASRD §4.119, 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 

7913 

COMBINED 

20% 
20% 

Diabetes Mellitus, Type II  

 
 
The following documentary evidence was considered: 
 
Exhibit A.  DD Form 294, dated 20120608, w/atchs 
Exhibit B.  Service Treatment Record 
Exhibit C.  Department of Veterans’ Affairs Treatment Record 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

           XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
           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 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, AR20120020556 (PD201200642) 
 
 
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 
 
 

     XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary 
         (Army Review Boards)