RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW 

BRANCH OF SERVICE:  ARMY 
SEPARATION DATE:  20020315 

 
NAME:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
CASE NUMBER:  PD1201653 
BOARD DATE:  20130129 
 
 
SUMMARY  OF  CASE:    Data  extracted  from  the  available  evidence  of  record  reflects  that  this 
covered  individual  (CI)  was  an  active  duty  SPC/E-4,  (13B/Cannon  Crewman),  medically 
separated  for  chronic  right  groin  pain,  subsequent  to  inguinal  hernia  repair  with  mesh.    CI 
underwent a hernia repair in May 2000 with residual chronic right groin pain despite treatment.  
The chronic right groin pain condition could not be adequately rehabilitated and the CI did not 
improve  adequately  with  treatment  to  meet  the  physical  requirements  of  his  Military 
Occupational Specialty (MOS) or satisfy physical fitness standards.  He was issued a permanent 
P3 profile and referred for a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB).  The MEB forwarded no other 
conditions for Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB) adjudication. The IPEB adjudicated the 
chronic  right  groin  pain  condition  as  unfitting,  rated  0%.  The  CI  appealed  to  the  Formal  PEB 
(FPEB), which affirmed the IPEB findings; and was then medically separated with a 0% disability 
rating.   
 
 
CI CONTENTION:  “The rating of 10% was never a satisfactory rating.  I continue to have lower 
back pain and groin pain.”   
 
 
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.  The chronic right groin pain meets the 
criteria  prescribed  in  DoDI  6040.44  for  Board  purview  and  is  addressed  below.    The  other 
requested condition, low back pain (LBP), is not within the Board’s 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 Army Board for Correction of Military 
Records.   
 
 
RATING COMPARISON:   
 

Service FPEB – Dated 20020115 
Condition 

Code 

Rating 

VA (# Mos. Pre/Post-Separation) – All Effective Date 20020316 
Exam 

Condition 

Rating 

Code 

Chronic Right Groin Pain 

8777-8730 

0% 

↓No Additional MEB/PEB Entries↓ 

Combined:  0% 

 
 
 
 

Nerve Impingement Status Post 
Right Inguinal Hernia 

7338-8530 

0% 

Not Service-Connected x 1 
Combined:  0% 

20030415  
20030415 

 
 
 
ANALYSIS SUMMARY: 
 
Chronic  Right  Groin  Pain  Condition.    The  MEB  narrative  summary  (NARSUM),  dictated 
16 October 2001, notes the CI had a right inguinal hernia repair with mesh application in May 
2000.  After surgery, the CI continued to complain of right inguinal pain possibly secondary to a 
nerve  impingement  syndrome  in  the  area.    Pain  was  unalleviated  by  conservative  treatment 
and injection therapy and limited the CI’s military duty to include no running, marching and no 
field duty.  The CI received a permanent profile and medical separation from the service was 
recommended.  The MEB NARSUM physical exam performed on 17 November 2001 noted a 
well healed post-surgery scar in the right inguinal area with diffuse tenderness to palpation and 
decreased light touch sensation in the area.  No bulge or masses were observed.  The leg had 
normal  strength  (5/5).    At  the  VA  Compensation  and Pension  (C&P)  examination, performed 
15 April  2003,  13  months  after  separation,  the  CI  reported  he  continued  to  have  pain  and 
numbness in the right inguinal area.  The examiner noted that a neurologist diagnosed nerve 
impingement and the CI was referred to a pain specialist who treated with local steroid and 
anesthetic injections.  Surgical exploration of the nerve was proposed, however the CI declined 
the intervention.  The C&P physical examination revealed a well healed 3 cm scar in the right 
groin  area,  barely  visible,  without  any  keloid  or  cicatrization.    There  was  no  evidence  of 
recurrence of hernia.  Gait was normal.   
 
The Board directs attention to its rating recommendation based on the above evidence.  Both 
the  PEB  and  VA rated the  right  inguinal  hernia condition  0%  using different  codes.    The PEB 
used  codes  8777-8730  ilioinguinal  nerve  neuralgia  rated  0%,  the  highest  rating  achievable 
under  this  code  IAW  §4.124.    The  VA  used  codes  7338-8530  (inguinal  hernia,  paralysis 
ilioinguinal nerve), nerve impingement status post (s/p) right hernia repair.  Both the PEB and 
VA  rated  analogously  to  the  ilioinguinal  nerve,  the  PEB  using  the  code  for  ilioinguinal  nerve 
neuralgia (8730) while the VA used ilioinguinal nerve paralysis (8530).  No paralysis was present 
to  warrant  the  10%  rating  and both  adjudicated  a  0%  (zero  percent)  rating.    The  Board  also 
considered  a  rating  under  7338  for  inguinal  hernia  however  a  rating  of  10%  requires  hernia 
operation with recurrence, not supported by the record in evidence.  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 right inguinal hernia 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 nerve impingement s/p right inguinal hernia condition and 
IAW VASRD §4.124a, 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:   
 

Nerve Impingement Status Post Right Inguinal Hernia 

UNFITTING CONDITION 

VASRD CODE  RATING 
8777-8730 
COMBINED 

0% 
0% 

 
 
The following documentary evidence was considered: 
 
Exhibit A.  DD Form 294, dated 20120606, w/atchs 
Exhibit B.  Service Treatment Record 
Exhibit C.  Department of Veterans’ Affairs Treatment Record 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, DAF 
  Acting Director 
  Physical Disability Board of Review 

 
 
 

SFMR-RB 
 
 
 
 
MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, US Army Physical Disability Agency  
(TAPD-ZB / XXXXXXXXXX), WRAMC, 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA  
22202-3557 
 
SUBJECT:  Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation 
for XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, AR20130003820 (PD201201653) 
 
 
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 
 
 
 

     XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary 
         (Army Review Boards)