DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
WASHINGTON DC

Office of the Assistant Secretary

SAF/MRBD (PDBR)
3351 Celmers Lane
JBA NAF Washington, MD 20762-6435
MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR, ARMY REVIEW BOARDS AGENCY

SUBJECT: Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation on XXXXXXXXXXX Case Number PD-2017-01873

In accordance with Title 10 § 1554a and in compliance with DoDI 6040.44, the Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR) adjudicated the disability rating accompanying the medical separation of the covered individual from the United States Army. After carefully reviewing the application and medical separation case file, the PDBR recommended no re-characterization of the separation or modification of the disability rating previously assigned. I recommend you accept this proposed decision.

The covered individual (CI) was an active duty, Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer, medically separated for “bilateral hip pain,” rated 10% and 10%, respectively, with a combined disability rating of 20%, analogously coded 5099-5003 (degenerative arthritis), citing painful motion. The VA also rated the right and left hip conditions 10% each, dual coded 5203-5024 (thigh, impairment – tenosynovitis), based on the Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination, citing painful motion of major joints. The panel agreed there was no limitation of motion for either hip which supported a higher rating under the diagnostic codes for limitation of thigh flexion, extension, or thigh impairment (5251, 5252, and 5253). However, there was objective evidence of painful motion to support a 10% rating for the left and right hip, IAW VASRD §§4.59, 4.40 and 4.45, based on the finding of painful motion of both hips during the MEB, physical therapy and C&P examinations. There was no evidence of a pelvic fracture for an alternative fracture rating. After due deliberation, considering all 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 right and left hip conditions.

In the matter of the contended GERD, the condition was not profiled or implicated in the commander’s statement, and did not fail retention standards. There was no performance-based evidence from the record that the condition significantly interfered with satisfactory duty performance at separation. After due deliberation, the panel concluded there was insufficient cause to recommend a change in the PEB fitness determination for the contended condition, so no additional disability rating is recommended.

AR20210005015

Dear XXXXXXXXXXX:
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.

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