Warner v. United States

103 Fed. Cl. 408, 2012 U.S. Claims LEXIS 57, 2012 WL 453235
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedFebruary 14, 2012
DocketNo. 11-341 C
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 103 Fed. Cl. 408 (Warner v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Warner v. United States, 103 Fed. Cl. 408, 2012 U.S. Claims LEXIS 57, 2012 WL 453235 (uscfc 2012).

Opinion

OPINION

BRUGGINK, Judge.

This is an action for disability retirement pay. Plaintiff, Zachary C. Warner, was separated from the United States Air Force after a physical evaluation board (“PEB”) determined he was unfit for duty and recommended his discharge without disability benefits. Pending are the parties’ cross-motions for judgment on the administrative record under Rule 52.1 of the Rules of the Court of Federal Claims (“RCFC”). Oral argument is deemed not necessary. For the reasons set forth below, we grant defendant’s motion.

BACKGROUND

After enlisting in the Air Force, Mr. Warner started basic military training (“BMT”) at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, on May 11, 2010. During his first week of BMT, Mr. Warner passed his physical evaluation tests. Compl. ¶ 6. In the second week of BMT, however, Mr. Warner experienced “severe shortness of breath during a physical fitness evaluation” and showed signs of “wheezing and tightness in his chest.” Compl. ¶ 7. Mr. Warner discontinued BMT during his fourth week when the Air Force transferred him to another squadron for rehabilitative training. Id. Dr. Charlene Williams examined Mr. Warner at the base medical clinic on June 2, 2010. Administrative Record (“AR”) 18. During the examination, Mr. Warner told Dr. Williams that he had severe asthma until the age of 11. Id. Dr. Williams referred Mr. Warner to an allergy clinic. Id.

Mr. Warner visited the allergy clinic on June 9, 2010, and met with Dr. Christopher Webber, an allergy specialist. AR 18-27. Dr. Webber’s medical report states that Mr. Warner reported becoming “dizzy/lightheaded after running 25 min[utesj.” AR 19. Mr. Warner reported to Dr. Webber that “he was told by tech that his chest was tight and he was wheezing” immediately after he became dizzy and lightheaded. Id. Based on Dr. Webber’s report, Mr. Warner stated to Dr. Webber that he experienced “significant chest tightness and shortness of breath and needed” medication to treat the symptoms during and after exercise. Id. Mr. Warner stated to Dr. Webber that he was able to perform self-paced exercise, but now was on dorm rest. Id.

Dr. Webber’s report notes humidity as a trigger for Mr. Warner’s attacks and that Mr. Warner reported mild symptoms when running or marching outdoors. Id. It goes on to state that Mr. Warner had not experienced symptoms while marching indoors, but he had not tried running indoors. Id. The report also shows that exei’cise-induced symptoms occurred when walking. AR 20. Dr. Webber also reports that Mr. Warner had a childhood history of asthma and that Mr. Warner experienced chest symptoms pri- or to BMT during track and field. Id. Mr. Warner attributed the latter symptoms to “deeonditioning.” Id.

In diagnosing Mr. Warner with asthma, Dr. Webber noted that “[bjecause classification of severity is based on course of symptoms over time, [he was] unable to classify patient’s asthma severity.” AR 21. Dr. Webber’s notes quote Air Force Instruction (“AFI”) 48-123, A3.13.4 (2006) 1 which states [411]*411“reactive airway disease, ... reliably diagnosed and symptomatic after the 13th birthday is disqualifying.” Id. Dr. Webber concluded that “[although chronicity definitions may vary, this AFI defines chronicity as asthma symptoms that ‘persist or recur over a prolonged period of time generally more than 12 months.’ This patient meets this definition of chronicity.” Id.

After Mr. Warner received a disqualifying diagnosis from Dr. Webber, Dr. Maria De Arman examined Mi’. Warner on June 14, 2010, in preparation for Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) proceedings. AR 37-40. Dr. De Arman reported that Mr. Warner “recants [his] history of childhood Asthma.” AR 3 9. Mr. Warner reported that he was “misremembering” when he told Drs. Williams and Webber he had asthma as a child and that instead it was his younger brother who had asthma. Id. Dr. De Arman confirmed Mr. Warner’s diagnosis of asthma and agreed that it was a disqualifying diagnosis. Id. at 40. Dr. De Arman’s report states that Mr. Warner has an “[ujnelear history of Asthma,” that there was no documentation of asthma on his military entrance physical examination, and that she had not reviewed his civilian medical records. Id. Based on her evaluation of Mr. Warner, Dr. De Arman concluded that he “is not fit for military duty at this time” and recommended his discharge. Id.

Mr. Warner’s asthma diagnosis was found to be an “existing prior to service” (“EPTS”) condition by a three-physician MEB on June 22, 2010. AR 13. The MEB also determined that the condition had not been “permanently aggravated” by Mr. Warner’s military service. Id. The MEB recommended that Mr. Warner be referred to an Informal Physician Evaluation Board (“IPEB”). Id.

On June 23, 2010, Mr. Warner was presented with and signed a copy of the MEB report which stated that he was “informed of the findings and recommendations” of the MEB. Id. Mr. Warner also signed a form entitled “Impartial Review Request,” which included the following:

I have reviewed the contents of the MEB and narrative summary. The PEBLO [Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer] has counseled me regarding the impartial review process. I understand that the impartial review is designed to provide me with an impartial review of my medical board findings and recommendation. The review will ensure that the MEB adequately reflects the complete spectrum of my injuries and/or illnesses. I understand I have three duty days in which to decide. I understand this request form will become a part of the MEB package.

AR 14. The form asked Mr. Warner to indicate whether he wished to seek an impartial review of the MEB. Id. Mr. Warner selected the option stating “I do not request an impartial review of my MEB.” Id. If Mr. Warner had selected an impartial review, it would have been performed by a physician not associated with the MEB, and he could have submitted a rebuttal letter that would become part of the MEB package. Id. After Mr. Warner’s waiver of review, the MEB referred Mr. Warner’s case to the IPEB. AR 13.

On July 9, 2010, the IPEB agreed with the MEB’s findings and reported that Mr. Warner “has a medical condition which existed prior to service (EPTS), has not been permanently aggravated through military service, and is incompatible with the rigors of military service.” AR 7. In doing so, the IPEB found Mr. Warner “unfit because of a physical disability.” Id. The IPEB noted that Mr. Warner had a childhood history of asthma and that the MEB found that Mr. Warner’s asthma was EPTS and “the condition appears to have followed the natural course of the disease.” Id. The IPEB recommended that Mr. Warner be discharged without disability benefits. Id.

Mr. Warner reviewed the resulting AF Form 1180, Action on Informal Physical Evaluation Board Findings and Recommended Disposition, with a Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer (“PEBLO”) on July 14, 2010. AR 5. The PEBLO, who is [412]*412not an attorney, signed the AF Form 1180 beneath a statement reading “I have fully explained to [Mr. Warner] ... the legal results of the findings and recommended disposition of the PEB and of the applicable case processing procedures and appeal rights.” Id.

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Bluebook (online)
103 Fed. Cl. 408, 2012 U.S. Claims LEXIS 57, 2012 WL 453235, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/warner-v-united-states-uscfc-2012.