RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW

NAME:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 	CASE:  PD-2017-01935
BRANCH OF SERVICE:  Air Force 	SEPARATION DATE:  20050602

SUMMARY OF CASE:  Data extracted from the available evidence of record reflects this covered individual (CI) was an active duty E3, Security Forces Helper, medically separated for “asthma” with a disability rating of 10%.   

CI CONTENTION:  No specific contention was made.  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 Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), but determined by the PEB 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.  The panel’s authority is limited to assessing the fairness and accuracy of PEB rating determinations and recommending corrections when appropriate.  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 disability at the time of separation.  

RATING COMPARISON:  

SERVICE PEB - 20050426	VARD - 20050811	
Condition	Code	Rating	Condition	Code	Rating	Exam	
Asthma	6602	10%	Asthma	6602	10%	STR	
COMBINED RATING:  10%	COMBINED RATING OF ALL VA CONDITIONS:  10%	

ANALYSIS SUMMARY:  

Asthma.  According to the service treatment record (STR) and MEB narrative summary (NARSUM), the CI was diagnosed with asthma in March 2005.  She was prescribed albuterol (inhaled bronchodilator) as needed, and multiple provider notes in the STR corroborated that this was her only treatment while in service.  The only pulmonary function test (PFT) measurements in evidence were an FEV1 of 96% predicted and an FEV1/FVC ratio of 89%.  There was no STR evidence for respiratory failure, frequent or continuous corticosteroids, hospital admissions or monthly exacerbations requiring physician visits.  The 4 April 2005 MEB NARSUM examination, 2 months prior to separation, documented use of albuterol, as needed, prior to exercise and was “doing well on her current medication.”  The physical examination recorded clear lungs.  There was no VA examination proximate to separation in evidence.  

The panel directed attention to its rating recommendation based on the above evidence.  The PEB rated the asthma condition 10%, coded 6602 (bronchial asthma).  The VA conferred the same rating under the same code, based on the STR evidence.  The VASRD §4.97 criteria for a 10% rating under code 6602 are “FEV-1 of [71-80%] predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of [71-80%], or; intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.”  Those for 30% are “FEV-1 of [56-70%] predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of [56-70%], or; daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, or; inhalational anti-inflammatory medication.”  The evidence did not satisfy the PFT criteria for a minimum 10% rating, but did satisfy the 10% treatment criterion of intermittent inhalational bronchodilator.  The evidence did not satisfy any of the treatment criteria for a 30% rating, and there was no evidence in support of any higher 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 asthma condition.  

BOARD FINDINGS:  In the matter of the asthma condition and IAW VASRD §4.97, the panel recommends no change in the PEB adjudication.  There are no other conditions within the panel’s scope of review for consideration.  Therefore, the panel recommends there be no modification or re-characterization of the CI’s disability and separation determination.  

SAF/MRB
3351 Celmers Lane
JBA NAF Washington, MD 20762-6435

Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX:

		Reference your application submitted under the provisions of DoDI 6040.44 (Section 1554, 10 USC), PDBR Case Number PD-2017-01935.

After careful consideration of your application and treatment records, the Physical Disability Board of Review determined that the rating assigned at the time of final disposition of your disability evaluation system processing was appropriate.  Accordingly, the Board recommended no rating modification or re-characterization of your separation.

I have carefully reviewed the evidence of record and the recommendation of the Board.  I concur with that finding and their conclusion that modification of your disability rating or characterization of your separation is not warranted.  Accordingly, I accept the recommendation that your application be denied.

						Sincerely,