| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Nancy Amos | Analyst |
| Ms. Margaret K. Patterson | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Karol A. Kennedy | Member | |
| Mr. Richard T. Dunbar | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, that his records be corrected to show he had rheumatoid arthritis at the time of his discharge and to show the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) considered his rheumatoid arthritis.
APPLICANT STATES: The applicant makes no additional statement. He provides extracts from his military medical records as supporting evidence.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records are not available. Information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.
The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 13 March 1989.
Around February 1999, while assigned to Korea, the applicant was evaluated for a 2-year history of multiple joint pains which initiated in his hands and then spread throughout his hands, wrists, shoulders, knees, and ankles. His medical evacuation summary noted that he was initially evaluated in the Internal Medicine Clinic as well as by a civilian rheumatologist in Korea and, given his history and a series of laboratory values, he was felt to have a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
On 29 April 1999, the applicant was evaluated by the Rheumatology Service, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX. That Service noted that prior to their evaluation laboratory testing on the applicant had been quite extensive with all functions/tests within normal limits except a January 1998 antinuclear antibody testing which was positive with a low-titer of 1-80 speckled pattern with normal complements and a positive rheumatoid factor 1:160. Additional laboratory testing and radiographic evaluation was recommended upon completion of which further recommendations including referral for a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) would be made.
The MEB Narrative Summary dated 4 October 1999, noted that the applicant had undergone multiple medical evaluations including by report a rheumatological evaluation while in Korea and was given a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. However, the Summary noted that no documentation of that evaluation was available. A review of his systems indicated that they were notable for the presence of polyarthralgias, morning stiffness, painful swelling of the hands and feet, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, and mechanical low back pain. It was also notable for the absence of other symptoms apparently related to rheumatoid arthritis. A musculoskeletal examination was notable for the absence of American College of Rheumatology tender points. Radiographs of his hands and feet were normal and an MRI of his sacroiliac joints indicated no evidence of sacroilitis. He was diagnosed with osteoarthritis with no clinical, radiographic evidence of rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, or other inflammatory arthropathy at that time.
On 6 October 1999, an MEB found the applicant unfit for duty with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, pain moderate and frequent. He was referred to a PEB. On 14 October 1999, the applicant agreed with the MEB’s findings and recommendation.
On 19 October 1999, a PEB found the applicant unfit for duty because of osteoarthritis with muscle pain, joint pain, and stiffness and recommended his separation with severance pay with a 20 percent disability rating. On 22 October 1999, the applicant concurred in the PEB’s findings and recommendation and waived a formal hearing of his case.
The applicant’s Certificate of Discharge or Release from Active Duty, DD Form 214, is not available.
Army Regulation 635-40 governs the evaluation of physical fitness of soldiers who may be unfit to perform their military duties because of physical disability. The regulation defines “physically unfit” as unfitness due to physical disability. The unfitness is of such a degree that a soldier is unable to perform the duties of his office, grade, rank or rating in such a way as to reasonably fulfill the purposes of his employment on active duty. Appendix B prohibits pyramiding. Pyramiding is the term used to describe the application of more than one rating on any area or system of the body when the total functional impairment of that area or system can be reflected under a single code. All diagnoses that contribute to total functional impairment of any area or system of the body will be merged with the principal diagnosis for rating purposes.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.
2. The evidence of record shows that extensive laboratory testing and radiographic evaluations at the time of the applicant’s MEB ruled out rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, even if he had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in addition to osteoarthritis, the rule prohibiting pyramiding would have prevented that condition from being considered as unfitting.
3. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
__mkp___ __kak___ __rtd___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001060638 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20011002 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (DENY) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 108.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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