RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW

NAME:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	CASE:  PD-2015-01905
BRANCH OF SERVICE:  Army 	SEPARATION DATE:  20070310

SUMMARY OF CASE:  Data extracted from the available evidence of record reflects that this covered individual (CI) was an active duty E5, Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator medically separated for “Idiopathic thrombocytopenia,” with a disability rating of 0%.  

CI CONTENTION:  “Percentage of disability rating should be changed from 0.”  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 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 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 determinations 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 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:  

SERVICE PEB - 20070103	VARD - 20071203	
Condition	Code	Rating	Condition	Code	Rating	Exam	
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia	7505	0%	Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura	7706-7705	NSC	STR	
COMBINED RATING:  0%	COMBINED RATING OF ALL VA CONDITIONS:  N/A	

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia.  According to service treatment records (STR) and the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) narrative summary (NARSUM), the CI’s blood condition began in adolescence, prior to his military service.  He deployed to Afghanistan and developed acute bleeding with a platelet count <20000 and was treated.  He deployed to Iraq and developed problems with spontaneous bleeding at the gums with a platelet count again of <20000.  He was air evacuated to Germany where he was treated for the first time with intravenous medication.  He had some sensitivity (shortness of breath and laryngeal swelling) to the medication but symptoms improved with decreased rate of infusion.  The MEB forwarded idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, recurrent, refractory, currently in remission to the PEB for adjudication.  

The 16 August 2006 MEB NARSUM examination, 7 months prior to separation, noted the CI had a normal blood count at follow up visits after his intravenous treatment on August 2005 and no evidence of bleeding.  Physical examination after that treatment showed no evidence of bleeding.  His platelet count in July 2006 was 485, 000, in the elevated range.  There was no VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) evaluation proximate to separation in evidence.

The panel directed attention to its rating recommendation based on the above evidence.  The PEB rated the blood condition 0%, coded 7705 (thrombocytopenia, idiopathic), citing existence prior to service (EPTS) and permanent aggravation by military service.  The VA determined that the CI’s idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura was not service-connected, citing no evidence of permanent worsening of his condition, and normal platelet counts.  After due deliberation, considering all of the evidence and mindful of VASRD §4.3 (reasonable doubt), the panel concluded that there was insufficient cause to recommend a change in the PEB adjudication for the blood condition.  

BOARD FINDINGS:  In the matter of the idiopathic thrombocytopenia condition and IAW VASRD §4.71a, the panel unanimously recommends no change in the PEB adjudication.  There were no other conditions within the panel’s scope of review for consideration.  The panel, therefore, recommends that 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 20150703, w/atchs
Exhibit B.  Service Treatment Record
Exhibit C.  Department of Veterans Affairs Treatment Record

AR20170009277, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 

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Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX:

	The Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review (DoD PDBR) reviewed your application and found your separation disability rating and your separation from the Army for disability with severance pay to be accurate.  I have reviewed the Board’s recommendation and record of proceedings (copy enclosed), and I accept its recommendation.  I regret to inform you that your application to the DoD PDBR is denied.  

	This decision is final.  Recourse within the Department of Defense or the Department of the Army is exhausted; however, you have the option to seek relief by filing suit in a court of appropriate jurisdiction.

Sincerely,					       
						      					
Enclosure