(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03092A001100050002-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 31, 2001
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: September 28, 1972
• Content Type: MIN

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C~~dT~AI
The 190th meeting of the CIA. RETIREMENT
BOARD convened at 2:00 p. m. on Thursday, 28 September 1972, with
the following present:
25X1A
25X1A
Mr. Harry B. Fisher, Chairman
P Member
Member
T Member
DDS Alternate Member
Legal Adviser
al Adviser
DD/Pers
cutive Secretary
Recording Secretary
25X1A
We have the following statement from who is his 25X1A
supervisor (Reading) 25X1A
25X1A
"Mr. is a mature and experienced communicator
with a technical knowle ge considered to be above average. However, Mr.
25X1A abilities to meet job requirements has been significantly and
acverse y affected by an ailing back condition.
25X1A
25X1A
25X1A
"On 28 May 1970, Mr. underwent surgery to have
a ruptured disc removed from his spine, ince the operation, Mr.
has continued to suffer pain, has been required to use excessive a
sick-leave, with no noticeable improvement in his condition.
"I have monitored Mr. actions and there is no
25X1A evidence that Mr. disability is in any way a result of his own
vicious habits, intemperance or willful misconduct. "
25X1A
And then we have statement in his submission
when he applied for disability retirement, 19 May 1972: "Back problem
beginning in 1962 got progressively worse until in May of 1970 I underwent
spine surgery, having a ruptured disc removed at the L5-S1 level. Nerve
root compression from the disc herniation was severe and I am still
undergoing progressive recovery from impingement on the Sl nerve root.
Condition is aggravated by controlled environment in which I work. "
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That was the package that went forward to the
OMS. The Report of the Board of Medical Examiners to the Director
of Personnel, dated 20 September 1972, states as follows: "The Board
of Medical Examiners considered the total information, including the
statement from the consulting physician, his supervisor's statement, the
medical history and medical record, and the reports of recent examinations.
The Board did not find the Subject sufficiently impaired to warrant medical
disability retirement, and it is recommended that the application be
disapproved. The application could be reconsidered in the event that new
or additional evidence is submitted. "
All right, Charlie, do you want to take it from there ?
25X1A
25X1A
We have a summary, if you would
like that read. However you want to proceed.
25X1A MR. FISHER: Yes, please.
I might say, to begin with, that he has
two separate back problems as far as we're concerned. One is what
residuals exist secondary to the low back surgery, which are minimal at
this time. And a different back problem, which is in his upper back and
neck, which is the source of his pain difficulty now, and this problem with
his upper back we feel, and all the physicians who Ya, ve seen him feel is a
treatable and correctible condition -- and this is the principal one that he
says is the cause of his disability at this point.
MR. FISHER: Now, just so that I understand that,
where is the S1 nerve root.
That is in the low back. His
symptoms when we examined him were all in this area - the shoulders,
the upper back, and the neck.
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25X1A
MR. FISHER: In his mind does he think that it's all
related to that?
Yes, I think he probably does .
He is a 39 year old Communications Technician
25X1A assigned to with 17 years Federal service, 13 years with the
Agency, 8-plus years overseas. And some of this is repetition of what
you just said, Harry, so I'll skip that part of it.
A review of his record reveals that he was first
seen in the OMS dispensary in September 1962 because of a low back pain.
On 28 May 1970 he had surgery for a ruptured disc in the low back. It was
noted that nerve root compression from the disc herniation was severe and
recovery was still taking place 10 months later.
During a physical examination on 1 February 1972
examiner noted that he had used about 1, 000 hours of sick leave in the past
two years because of a back problem. Mr. tated that his 25X1A
symptoms had continued since surgery, and there was also a history of pain
in the neck, shoulders, and chest brought on by exposure to air conditioning.
The physical examination at that time revealed some over weigh some
minimal neurological findings, and an elevated blood cholesterol. The
examining physician recommended x-ray studies, orthopedic consultation,
and consideration of psychiatric evaluation. The x-ray studies at that time
of the cervical spine and lumbar spine showed some narrowing of the
intervertebral disc space at the L5 - Sl level -- and that is down in the low
back. There was noted to be straightening of the normal lumbar lordosis,
suggestive of muscle spasm.
The orthopedic consultation, which was primarily
concerned with the symptoms in the upper back, revealed an impression of
recurring muscle irritation, which should respond to the application of heat
and an analgesic - specifically probably Aspirin.
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25X1A
In February 1972 a consultant in rheumatolagy
found the same diagnosis in regard to the upper back and recommended
Valium followed by injections of xylocaine and steroids and, if these
measures were not effective, then a program of physical therapy.
Mr. -was interviewed in late July to update
the previous findings of February 1972. He had some residuals from the
surgery of 1970 but these were minimal. He complained of discomfort in
the upper back dating to 1962 and 1969, manifested by aching of the neck,
the shoulders, and then radiation into the arms. This syndrome is triggered
by circulating cool air and is relieved when he goes home, where he uses no
air conditioning, and with bed rest.
As a part of his evaluation recently in terms of
retirement application he was referred to a consultant in Neurological
Surgery, whose opinion was: "The neurological examination is normal
except for the residuals of a ruptured lumbar disc for which he was operated
on in 1970. There are no physical findings in the region of the neck,
shoulder girdle, or back where he has pain. As detailed in the history, his
pain appears to be directly related to exposure to air conditioning. This is
not uncommon; the unusual thing is the severity of his pain and the degree
of disability caused by the pain. Recommendation: I would recommend
that the next time he develops pain sufficient to cause him to stay off
from work he be examined by a physician in the Medical Department and
it would be also helpful if he could be examined by me during the same
period to get an additional independent evaluation. I would classify the
condition as myofibrositis precipitated by body chilling. "
The recommendations by this physician and consultant
25X1A in rheumatology were discussed with Mr. -about the possibility
of injections and physical therapy. He stated he did not feel like driving the
70 miles to have treatment when he had symptoms. I gather he lives down
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