RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW

NAME:  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX		CASE: PD-2017-05576 BRANCH OF SERVICE: ARMY	SEPARATION DATE: 20050427

SUMMARY OF CASE: Data extracted from the available evidence of record reflects this covered individual (CI) was an active duty E4, Multi-Channel Systems Operator and Maintainer, medically separated for “right (dominant) wrist pain” with a disability rating of 0%.

CI CONTENTION: “The rating was low from the beginning for the injury I received. Plus I have ongoing issues from the injury that have not improved but gotten worse over the years.” 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 - 20050215	VARD - 20050616	
Condition	Code	Rating	Condition	Code	Rating	Exam	
Right (Dominant) Wrist Pain	5215	0%	Residuals of Right Distal
Forearm Injury (Dominant)	5399-5308	10%	STR	
COMBINED RATING: 0%	COMBINED RATING OF ALL VA CONDITIONS: 10%	

ANALYSIS SUMMARY:

Right (Dominant) Wrist Pain. According to the service treatment record (STR) and Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) narrative summary (NARSUM), the CI underwent right wrist surgery in August 2003 for repair of fascial herniation and fascial release in January 2004.

The 28 December 2004 MEB NARSUM examination, 4 months prior to separation, noted complaints of a “great deal of discomfort with manual labor…” Physical examination revealed a moderately tender right forearm scar and full wrist range of motion (ROM). The physical therapy examination, dictated 2 months prior to separation, revealed limitation of extension to 25 degrees (normal 70) and mild pain with flexion and extension. The 18 January 2005 MEB examination (recorded on DD Forms 2807-1 and 2808), revealed marked scarring over the right wrist flexor tendons with decreased ROM and grip strength. The examiner noted right flexor tendon pain. 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 right wrist condition 0%, coded 5215 (wrist, limitation of motion), citing minimal VASRD criteria for rating limitation of motion was not met. The VA rated the right wrist condition 10%, analogously coded 5308 (Group VIII function: forearm and hand), based on the STR, citing chronic pain. There was no limitation of motion which supported a rating under 5215. However, there was evidence of painful motion with functional loss supporting a 10% rating (based on
§§4.59, 4.40 and 4.45). After due deliberation, considering all the evidence and mindful of VASRD
§4.3 (reasonable doubt), the panel recommends a disability rating of 10% for the right wrist condition, coded 5215.

BOARD FINDINGS: In the matter of the right wrist pain, the panel recommends a disability rating of 10%, coded 5215 IAW VASRD §4.71a. There are no other conditions within the panel’s scope of review for consideration.

The panel recommends the CI’s prior determination be modified as follows, effective the date of medical separation:

CONDITION	VASRD CODE	PERMANENT RATING	
Right (Dominant) Wrist Pain	5215	10%	

2	PD-2017-05576

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ARMY REVIEW BOARDS AGENCY 251 18TH STREET SOUTH, SUITE 385
ARLINGTON, VA 22202-3531

AR20200004293

Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX:

The Department of Defense Physical Disability Board of Review (DoD PDBR) reviewed your application and found that your disability rating should be modified but not to the degree that would justify changing your separation for disability with severance pay to a permanent retirement with disability. I have reviewed the Board’s recommendation and record of proceedings (copy enclosed) and I accept its recommendation. This will not result in any change to your separation document or the amount of severance pay. A copy of this decision will be filed with your Physical Evaluation Board records. I regret that the facts of the case did not provide you with the outcome you may have desired.

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.

A copy of this decision has also been provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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