RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-04911 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His AF Form 356, Findings and Recommended Disposition of USAF Physical Evaluation Board, dated 9 August 2013, Section 9, Column D, be amended as follows: Line 1, Left Upper Extremity Severe Tremor be amended from 30 percent to 70 percent. Line 2, Right Upper Extremity Severe Tremor be amended from 20 percent to 30 percent. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: On 19 February 2014, he requested the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) add Parkinson’s disease to the Disability Evaluation System Proposed Rating (DESPR) since Parkinson’s disease and not carpal tunnel caused his tremors. The DVA increased his disability rating using the same findings and evaluations from the DESPR file dated 26 July 2013, which was used by the medical evaluation board to award a 70 percent disability rating. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: On 27 November 2013, the applicant retired in the grade of Master Sergeant (MSgt, E-7) with a 70 percent disability rating. According to the applicant’s DVA rating decision the applicant was assigned a combined disability rating of 100 percent effective 19 February 2014. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSD recommends denial. The preponderance of the evidence reflects that no error or injustice occurred during the disability process. The applicant was processed through the Disability Evaluation System (DES) in 2013 and was permanently retired on 27 November 2013 for reasons of physical disability. As a part of the Integrated DES (IDES), his case file was forwarded to the DVA for ratings assignment. On 26 July 2013 the DVA rated the applicant's severe tremors of the left and right upper extremities as carpal tunnel syndrome, assigning a 30 percent rating for the left upper extremity and a 20 percent rating for the right upper extremity. The Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB) applied the ratings but determined the applicant's condition was best identified as Parkinson's disease vice carpal tunnel syndrome and placed that diagnosis in item 9A of the AF Form 356. The IPEB also found the applicant unfit for right lower extremity severe tremors rated at 20 percent, left lower extremity severe tremors rated at 20 percent, and anosmia rated at 10 percent. The applicant's total disability rating at the time of release from active duty was 70 percent. In 2014, the applicant requested the DVA review their initial rating. The DVA evaluated his file and in their response stated both his left and right upper extremity tremors had worsened, resulting in an increase in the assigned percentages. Additionally, they added an association with Parkinson’s disease to the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. As background, the DoD and the DVA disability evaluation systems operate under separate laws. It must be noted the Air Force disability boards must rate disabilities based on the member’s condition at the time of evaluation; in essence a snapshot of their condition at that time, while the DVA rating may fluctuate as a condition changes. In the applicant’s case, the new rating was awarded seven months following their initial rating and was addressed as having increased due to a worsening of the applicant’s service connected conditions. In their response to his claim, the DVA stated his condition had worsened; as such, the rating assigned as a result of the initial evaluation was accurate based on the medical documentation available at the time. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSD evaluation is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 25 March 2015 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, no response has been received by this office. THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was timely filed. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the requested relief. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-04911 in Executive Session on 6 August 2015 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Forms 149, dated 26 November 2014 and 7 January 2015, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Memorandum, AFPC/DPSD, dated 11 February 2015. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 March 2015.