RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW

NAME: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	CASE:  PD-2015-00638
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army 	SEPARATION DATE:  20051026

SUMMARY OF CASE:  Data extracted from the available evidence of record reflects that this covered individual (CI) was an activated National Guard E-3, Basic Trainee, medically separated for “recurrent chest pain following left pneumothorax,” with a disability rating of 0%.

CI CONTENTION:  The CI continues to experience symptoms from his condition. His 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 PEB - Dated 20051017	VARD - NA	
Condition	Code	Rating	Condition	Code	Rating	Exam	
Recurrent Chest Pain Following L Pneumothorax	5099-5003	0%	No VA Claim	
COMBINED RATING: 0%	COMBINED RATING OF ALL VA CONDITIONS:  	

ANALYSIS SUMMARY:  

Recurrent Chest Pain Following Left Pneumothorax.  According to service treatment records and the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) narrative summary (NARSUM), the CI developed shortness of breath after a 10-hour period of exertion on 9 July 2005, day 27 of basic training.  He presented 3 days later and was found to have a pneumothorax (free air in the chest).  He was also noted to have apical bullae (areas of thinning in the tops of the lung) on X-ray.  That same day, the CI was transferred to a referral medical center.  Also that day, 12 July 2005, the bullae were resected and the lungs were scarred down to reduce the likelihood of a serious recurrence.  He improved over the course of the hospitalization and was discharged after one week.  Over the course of the next month, he improved on convalescent leave and was then entered into the MEB process.  The MEB NARSUM examination was performed on 30 August 2005, 2 months prior to separation.  At that time, he was doing well other than left-sided chest pain (the side from the surgery) after walking long distances for which he stopped and took a deep breath.  He also woke up short of breath occasionally.  On physical examination, his lungs were clear and he was in no respiratory distress.  The MEB forwarded “left spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to apical pulmonary bleb, status post pleurodesis” for PEB adjudication.  There was not a VA Compensation and Pension evaluation or rating decision in evidence.  

The Board directed attention to its rating recommendation based on the above evidence.  The PEB rated the chest pain condition at 0%, coded 5099-5003 (analogous to degenerative arthritis), for moderate, intermittent pain.  The Board considered the evidence.  It determined that the code 6843 (traumatic chest wall defect) was more appropriate; however, this provided no rating advantage to the CI.  No pulmonary function tests were in evidence, but the activity level reported by the CI 6 weeks after surgery was noted to be good (walked long distances).  The Board found no route to a rating higher than the 0% rating adjudicated by the PEB.  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 recurrent chest pain following left pneumothorax condition.  

BOARD FINDINGS:  In the matter of the recurrent chest pain following left pneumothorax condition and IAW VASRD §4.71a and 4.100, the Board unanimously 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 20140521, 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 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, AR20170002166 (PD201500638)

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:

Enclosure

CF: 
(  ) DoD PDBR
(  ) DVA