RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW

NAME:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	CASE:  PD-2015-00750
BRANCH OF SERVICE:  Marine Corps	SEPARATION DATE:  20050715

SUMMARY OF CASE:  Data extracted from the available evidence of record reflects that this covered individual (CI) was an active duty E2, Basic Marine, medically separated for “chronic right groin pain” with a disability rating of 10%.

CI CONTENTION:  The CI made no specific contention.  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 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 - 20050505	VARD - None	
Condition	Code	Rating	Condition	Code	Rating	Exam	
Chronic Right Groin Pain	7599-7525	10%	No VA Disability Claim Filed	
COMBINED RATING:  10%	COMBINED RATING OF ALL VA CONDITIONS: N/A	

ANALYSIS SUMMARY:

Chronic Right Groin Pain.  According to service treatment record (STR) and the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) narrative summary (NARSUM), the CI’s right groin pain condition began in November 2004 after moving his bunk bed.  After surgical repair, additional conservative treatment did not result in improvement sufficient to allow unrestricted duty.  The MEB forwarded “abdominal pain, other specified site” and “other postsurgical status” for PEB adjudication.  The MEB NARSUM examination on 30 March 2005, 4 months prior to separation, noted complaints of constant right groin pain that increases with activity.  Physical examination showed a well healed surgical scar from the inguinal hernia repair that was tender to palpation, but no recurrence of the hernia.  Examination was otherwise normal.  The CI did not file a VA disability claim; therefore, there is no VA Compensation and Pension evaluation for this Board’s review.

The Board directed attention to its rating recommendation based on the above evidence.  The PEB rated the right groin pain condition 10%, analogously coded 7599-7525 (epididymo-orchitis, chronic only).  The Board agreed the CI’s groin pain continued after successful hernia repair with no recurrence of a hernia, which does not support a higher rating under code 7338 (hernia, inguinal).  The CI only had one painful scar not justifying a higher rating under VASRD code 7804 (scars, unstable or painful).  There is no higher rating available using VASRD code 8530 (ilio-inguinal nerve, paralysis of, severe to complete), neuritis (8630) or neuralgia (8730) than the 10% rated by the PEB.  There was no evidence of recurrent symptomatic infection requiring drainage/frequent hospitalization (greater than two times/year), and/or requiring continuous intensive management to justify a higher rating using code 7525.

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 right groin pain condition.

BOARD FINDINGS:  In the matter of the right groin pain condition and IAW VASRD §4.115a, 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 20150603, w/atchs
Exhibit B.  Service Treatment Record
Exhibit C.  Department of Veterans Affairs Treatment Record

MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY COUNCIL OF REVIEW
               BOARDS 

Subj:  PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW (PDBR) RECOMMENDATIONS
 
Ref:   (a) DoDI 6040.44
       (b) CORB ltr dtd 15 Nov 16

      In accordance with reference (a), I have reviewed the cases forwarded by reference (b), and, for the reasons provided in their forwarding memorandums, approve the recommendations of the PDBR that the following individual’s records not be corrected to reflect a change in either characterization of separation or in the disability rating previously assigned by the Department of the Navy’s Physical Evaluation Board:

		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC
		- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, former USMC

						  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
	     				  Assistant General Counsel
						                    (Manpower & Reserve Affairs)