So in an interesting turn of events, the VA has got me curious. Long story short. I filed a back claim some time ago and I managed to get service connected. Ofcourse, I got lowballed and I requested an increase and claimed some secondary issues in this instance my hips. C&P exam done, osteoarthritis of hips acknowledged, but denied as no relationship to secondary injury from IVDS and deformity of L1 disk. Got an increase of 10% as if to offer me some cheese. Back to the no relationship... Well ofcourse not, my back injury was from being ejected from a HUMMV and falling on my back and left hip, that would be a primary cause of trauma but ok. So I filed a new claim specifically asking for service connection to my injury from falling out and landing on my hip and back. I didn't claim the back as I am service connected for that and have an appeal on the bogus rating. I specifically filed a new claim for my hips and knees and left finger. I know I don't want to get on the bandwaggon of what ebennefits states however, I chuckled. My status on ebennies is now a claim for reopen on the hips. Well I never filed an initail claim on the hips, i filed as a secondary issue, and I was denied as the marvelous C&P doc opinied that osteoarthritis of the hips is not caused by IVDS of L1 but of old age or traumatic injury. Well I'm only 39. That doesn't sound right. Hmmm you mean like a traumatic injury such as being ejected from a moving vehicle, say it isn 't so. Really, wow, I would have never made that connection. Ah this will blow up in there faces or possibly mine but nope I don't think so, I much rather this grenade blows up in their hands.
Anyways no surprise. I am really astonished in a sense but not really . I mean if they want to give an earlier effective date then sure I'll take that, however, this ploy has me ever so curious. But I am sure this is a funny ploy to deny the injury to the hips again. The claim states that it is a reopen for the hips and a new claim for injuries to my knees and the finger. Finger. Ah how I would like to give them the finger right about now. Nah I think I am going to recite the regulations and CFR but sure I can play this game as well.
If I specifically file a claim for my hips and knees without asking for a reopen of secondaries why would the VA do it now? Games. Stupid games.
How many times I wonder if these shannanagans weren't allowed and nipped in the posterior, how effective and timely would claims be processed. Hell you might even seem some deserved justice for veterans and dependants that get denied benefits.