RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW

NAME:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	CASE:  PD-2015-01209
BRANCH OF SERVICE:  Coast Guard 	SEPARATION DATE:  20081031

SUMMARY OF CASE:  Data extracted from the available evidence of record reflects that this covered individual (CI) was an active duty E3 (Boatswain’s Mate) medically separated for “epididymo-orchitis” with a disability rating of 10%.  

CI CONTENTION:  The CI made no specific contention.  The complete submission is at Exhibit A.  

SCOPE OF REVIEW:  The panel’s scope of review is defined in DoDI 6040.44.  It is limited to review of disability ratings assigned 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 or non-compensable.  Any conditions outside the panel’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 panel’s authority is limited to assessing the fairness and accuracy of PEB rating determinations and recommending corrections, where appropriate.  The panel’s assessment of the PEB rating determination is based on 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(s) at the time of separation.  The panel 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 panel 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:  

IPEB - Dated 20080804	VA - NA	
Condition	Code	Rating	Condition	Code	Rating	Exam	
Epididymo-Orchitis	7525	10%	No VA Exam in Evidence	
COMBINED RATING:  10%	COMBINED RATING OF ALL VA CONDTIIONS:  NA	

ANALYSIS SUMMARY:  

Epididymo-Orchitis.  According to the service treatment record (STR) and the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) narrative summary (NARSUM), the CI’s testicular condition began in the fall of 2005 after no specific injury or infection.  Despite multiple limited duty profiles and medical treatment (including anesthetic injections), the testicular pain persisted.  All clinical entries documented scrotal or epididymal tenderness, while visits in October 2007, January and March 2008 documented edema or “woody firmness” of the scrotal area.  There was no STR documentation of urinary tract infection, urinary frequency, obstructed voiding, or voicing dysfunction.  There was no STR documentation of infections requiring drainage or frequent hospitalizations.  

The 1 April 2008 MEB NARSUM examination, 7 months prior to separation, noted complaints of bilateral pain that worsened with physical activity.  During the 21 May 2008 MEB examination (recorded on DD Form 2808), 5 months prior to separation, the physical examination showed bilateral tenderness of the epididymis.  There was no VA Compensation and Pension evaluation in evidence for review.  

The panel directed attention to the rating recommendation based on the above evidence.  The PEB rated 10% for the epididymo-orchitis condition, coded 7525 (epididymo-orchitis, chronic).  The panel considered the evidence for a rating higher than 10%.  The 7525 code specifies rating as a urinary tract infection.  There was no evidence of urinary frequency, obstructed voiding, or voicing dysfunction.  There was no evidence of recurrent symptomatic infections requiring drainage or frequent hospitalizations (greater than 2 times per year), or continuous intensive management for this condition for a higher rating.  There was evidence of chronic pain requiring intermittent drug therapy in support of a 10% rating, coded 7525.  Analogous coding using the 7120 code for varicose veins was considered.  This code specifies persistent edema, incompletely relieved by elevation…, with or without stasis pigmentation or eczema for a 20% rating.  There was no evidence of persistent edema or changes in the skin associated with the condition, therefore, a higher rating would not be supported.  After due deliberation, considering all of the evidence and mindful of VASRD §4.3 (reasonable doubt), the panel concluded there was insufficient cause to recommend a change in the PEB adjudication for the “epididymo-orchitis” condition.  

BOARD FINDINGS:  In the matter of the epididymo-orchitis condition and IAW VASRD §4. 115a, the panel unanimously recommends no change in the PEB adjudication.  There are no other conditions within the panel’s scope of review for consideration.  The panel, therefore, recommends there be no modification or re-characterization of the CI’s disability and separation determination.  

The following documentary evidence was considered:

Exhibit A.  DD Form 294, dated 20150610, w/atchs
Exhibit B.  Service Treatment Record

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX,

I am the Designated Decision Authority for the Coast Guard on applications submitted to the Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR).  Under the authority of Title 10, United States Code, section 1554a, I accept the PDBR’s recommendation in your case (Case Number PD-2015-01209) and decline to modify your findings. 

Enclosed for your information are a copy of the PDBR’s recommendation and a copy of the record of proceedings. 

A copy of this decision has also been provided to Coast Guard Enlisted Personnel Management Branch, the PDBR, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

If you have any further questions, please contact the Coast Guard Personnel Service Center at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. 

	Sincerely,

2 Enclosures	

Copy: CG Personnel Service Center (EPM-1)
DoD Physical Disability Board of Review
Department of Veterans Affairs