Office of the Assistant Secretary

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
WASHINGTON DC

SAF/MRBD (PDBR)
3351 Celmers Lane
JBA NAF Washington, MD 20762-6435

MEMORANDUM FOR THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS

SUBJECT: Physical Disability Board of Review Recommendation on Case Number PD-2018-00301
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 Marine Corps. 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 E2, Private First Class, medically separated for “asthma” with a disability rating of 10%. The PEB and the VA both coded 6602 (asthma). The VA based the rating for exercise-induced asthma on the Compensation and Pension examination, citing intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator (BD) therapy.
Although the CI was prescribed anti-inflammatory inhalant medications during the course of initial diagnosis and treatment of his asthma, which was reflected on the medications list on MEB narrative summary examination (5 months prior to separation), more proximate to separation the CI reported use of a BD inhaler only. The frequency of BD inhaler use was not clearly stated on either the MEB 19 October 2009 history forms, 2 weeks prior to separation, or the VA examination one month after separation. However, from medical history context it appeared to the panel the CI used the BD inhaler as needed, which by his report was when he was exercising, therefore, intermittently. There was no evidence that proximate to separation the CI was any longer using inhaled anti-inflammatory medication even intermittently. At the VA examination, the CI reported only BD inhaler use and no overall functional impairment from the asthma condition. The panel agreed that a 10% rating was supported for “intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy” and there was insufficient evidence of daily inhalational or oral BD therapy, or of inhalational anti-inflammatory medication use, to justify the next higher 30% rating. There was no pulmonary function testing evidence to support the next higher 30% rating and 60% rating was not justified in the absence of at least monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations, or intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic corticosteroids. 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.

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY COUNCIL OF REVIEW BOARDS 720 KENNON STREET SE STE 309
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, DC 20374-5023

IN REPLY REFER TO,
1850
CORB: 003
10 Sep 20

From: Director, Secretary of the Navy Council of Review Boards To:	XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Subj: PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW (PDBR) Ref:	(a) DoDI 6040.44
I.	Pursuant to reference (a), the PDBR reviewed your case and forwarded its recommendation to the Department of the Navy on 13 Aug 2020 for appropriate action.

2.	On 27 August 2020, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower & Reserve Affairs) accepted the recommendation of the PDBR ofno change to your characterization of separation or disability rating assigned by the Department of the Navy's Physical Evaluation Board.

3.	The Secretary's decision on your PDBR application is final and is not subject to appeal or additional review by the Board for Correction of Naval Records.