RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW

NAME:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	CASE:  PD-2015-00072
BRANCH OF SERVICE:  Army 	SEPARATION DATE:  20050915

SUMMARY OF CASE:  Data extracted from the available evidence of record reflects that this covered individual (CI) was an active duty E-3 (Multichannel Transmission Operator Maintainer) medically separated for “atraumatic left hip pain,” with a disability rating of 0%.  

CI CONTENTION:  The CI contends for her hip condition.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.  

SCOPE OF REVIEW:  The Board’s scope of review is defined in DoDI 6040.44.  It is limited to those conditions determined by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) to be unfitting for continued military service and when specifically requested by the CI, those conditions identified by the PEB, but determined to be not unfitting.  Any conditions outside the Board’s defined scope of review and any contention not requested in this application may remain eligible for future consideration by the Board for Correction of Military Records.  Furthermore, the Board’s authority is limited to assessing the fairness and accuracy of PEB rating determinations and recommending corrections, where appropriate.  The Board’s assessment of the PEB rating determinations is based upon a review of medical records and all available evidence for application of the Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) standards to the unfitting medical condition at the time of separation.  The Board has neither the role nor the authority to compensate for post-separation progression or complications of service-connected conditions.  That role and authority is granted by Congress to the Department of Veterans Affairs, operating under a different set of laws.  The Board gives consideration to VA evidence, particularly within 12 months of separation, but only to the extent that it reasonably reflects the severity of the disability at the time of separation. 

RATING COMPARISON:    

SERVICE IPEB - Dated 20050531	VARD – N/A 	
Condition	Code	Rating	Condition	Code	Rating	Exam	
ATRAUMATIC L HIP PAIN	5019	0%	No VA Examination in Evidence Proximate to Separation	
COMBINED RATING:  0%	COMBINED VA RATING:  N/A	

ANALYSIS SUMMARY:  

Atraumatic Left Hip Pain.  According to service treatment records (STR) and the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) narrative summary (NARSUM), the CI’s hip condition began after the final road march of basic training in April 2004.  Despite physical therapy, injections, rest, and medications, the hip condition could not be adequately rehabilitated to meet the physical requirements of the CI’s military specialty and the CI was referred for MEB.  The MEB forwarded The MEB forwarded “left greater trochanteric bursitis” for PEB adjudication.  

At a visit in December 2004 (9 months pre-separation), the physical examination showed a flexion of 105 degrees (normal 125) and painful motion.  At the MEB NARSUM examination on 15 April 2004 (5 months pre-separation), the CI reported pain with running, squatting, walking greater than 2 miles, jumping, standing greater than 45 minutes, sit-ups, and push-ups.  The physical examination showed tenderness over the lateral hip (greater trochanter) and full range of motion with pain during internal and external rotation.  No other hip pathology was found during examination.  There was no VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) evaluation in evidence for review.  

The Board directed attention to the rating recommendation based on the above evidence.  The PEB rated the “atraumatic left hip pain” 0%, coded 5019 (bursitis), citing tenderness over the greater trochanter, full range of motion with pain, and normal radiographic evaluations.  

The Board considered the evidence for a higher rating.  There was no evidence of extension limited to 5 degrees for a higher rating under code 5251 and no evidence of flexion limited to 45 degrees for a rating under 5252.  There was no limitation of abduction, adduction or rotation for a higher rating under 5253.  There was no evidence of fracture or malunion with knee or hip disability for rating under 5255.  The Board agreed there was sufficient STR evidence of painful motion with functional loss supporting a 10% rating (based on §4.59, §4.40 and §4.45); as reported on the MEB NARSUM, analogously coded 5299-5019 (bursitis).  After due deliberation, considering all of the evidence and mindful of VASRD §4.3 (reasonable doubt), the Board recommends a disability rating of 10% for the left hip condition, coded 5299-5019 (bursitis).  

BOARD FINDINGS:  In the matter of the left hip condition, the Board unanimously recommends a disability rating of 10%, coded 5299-5019 (bursitis) IAW VASRD §4.71a.  There were no other conditions within the Board’s scope of review for consideration.  The Board recommends that the CI’s prior determination be modified as follows, effective as of the date of the prior medical separation:  

CONDITION	VASRD CODE	PERMANENT RATING	
Left Greater Trochanteric Bursitis	5299-5019	10%	

The following documentary evidence was considered:

Exhibit A.  DD Form 294, dated 20150113, w/atchs
Exhibit B.  Service Treatment Record
Exhibit C.  Department of Veterans Affairs Treatment Record

SAMR-RB										

MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, US Army Physical Disability Agency 
(AHRC-DO), 2900 Crystal Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA  22202-3557

SUBJECT:  Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation for XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, AR20160018841 (PD201500072)

1.  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, accept the Board’s recommendation to modify the individual’s disability rating to 10% without re-characterization of the individual’s separation.  This decision is final.  

2.  I direct that all the Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected accordingly no later than 120 days from the date of this memorandum.   

3.  I request that a copy of the corrections and any related correspondence be provided to the individual concerned, counsel (if any), any Members of Congress who have shown interest, and to the Army Review Boards Agency with a copy of this memorandum without enclosures.

 BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY:

CF: 
(  ) DoD PDBR
(  ) DVA