RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW

NAME: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	CASE:  PD-2015-00630
BRANCH OF SERVICE:  Air Force 	SEPARATION DATE:  20070911

SUMMARY OF CASE:  Data extracted from the available evidence of record reflects that this covered individual (CI) was an active duty, E3, Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice, medically separated for “headaches induced by jet fuels” with a disability rating of 0%.  

CI CONTENTION:  “Review all conditions.”  The CI’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 confined to 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 PEB - 20070911	VARD – N/A	
Condition	Code	Rating	Condition	Code	Rating	Exam	
Headaches Induced by Jet Fuels	8100	0%	No VA Examination in Evidence	
COMBINED RATING:  0%	COMBINED RATING OF ALL VA CONDITIONS:  N/A	

ANALYSIS SUMMARY:  

Headaches Induced by Jet Fuels.  According to service treatment records and the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) narrative summary (NARSUM), the CI developed headaches upon exposure to jet fuel 6 months after Service entry (January 2007).  The headaches resolved upon removal from jet fuel exposure, however, he was unable to tolerate environments containing jet fuels.  As the CI could not perform the physical requirements of his military specialty, he was referred for MEB.  Review of treatment records revealed that he was assigned duties requiring exposure to jet fuel in February 2007 and was removed from exposure after approximately 1 month.  There were no clinical entries within that period of time for care of acute headaches.  

The MEB NARSUM, dated 29 May 2007 (4 months pre-separation) did not document any missed work due to headaches.  The commander’s statement, dated 19 June 2007, reported that the CI had “not lost any time due to his condition, and his duty schedule [had] not been modified.”  There was no VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination or rating decision in evidence for review.  

The Board directed attention to the rating recommendation based on the above evidence.  The PEB rated the headache condition 0% (code 8100 migraine) citing “headaches have since resolved.”  The Board adjudged that the service treatment records and the NARSUM did not reflect occurrence of prostrating attacks.  Members agreed that the ratable threshold was met for characteristic prostrating attacks less frequent than averaging once in 2 months over last several months (0%).  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 headache condition.  

BOARD FINDINGS:  In the matter of the headache condition and IAW VASRD §4.124a, the Board unanimously or majority recommends no change in the PEB adjudication.  There were no other conditions within the Board’s scope of review for consideration.  The Board, therefore, recommends that there be no re-characterization of the CI’s disability and separation determination.  

The following documentary evidence was considered:

Exhibit A.  DD Form 294, dated 20150604, w/atchs
Exhibit B.  Service Treatment Record
Exhibit C.  Department of Veterans Affairs Treatment Record

SAF/MR
1500 West Perimeter Road, Suite 3700
Joint Base Andrews, MD  20762

Dear XXXXXXXXXX:

Reference your application submitted under the provisions of DoDI 6040.44 (Section 1554, 10 USC), PDBR Case Number PD-2015-00630.

After careful consideration of your application and treatment records, the Physical Disability Board of Review determined that the rating assigned at the time of final disposition of your disability evaluation system processing was appropriate.  Accordingly, the Board recommended no re-characterization or modification of your separation.

I have carefully reviewed the evidence of record and the recommendation of the Board.  I concur with that finding and their conclusion that re-characterization of your separation is not warranted.  Accordingly, I accept their recommendation that your application be denied.

Sincerely,

Attachment:
Record of Proceedings