Rx7mike

Good luck and dont overthink it. Hoping for the best i just had my review c&p today i was so stressed but it turned out easier than i was expecting. Be truthful and go by your worst day when explaining things and most important Dont lose faith you have an army here at hadit and vso all on your side!!

Keep an eye on myhealthevet blue button. click on notes it should show your c&p there if it was done at the VMAC mine was done the day before yours so im hoping to see it today or so as the next dat it turrned to preparing for descision. good luck

It would be nice if it happened this way, but VA thinks its their job to make as many new homeless Vets as possible by making us wait as long for our benefits as possible.  You likely wont get your temp100% until well past needing it.  That is why you need to file a NOD and file for an increase now.  Im not a rocket scientist, but it sounds like the suregeon has already determined you need a new knee by agreeing to the surgery.  Most doctors dont replace good knees with plastic and metal ones.  
This said, it IS election year and people dont exactly want to run out and vote for the guy who was responsible for their homelessness, so you may get your temp 100% sooner than most of the rest of us got our benefits.  I did not get my benefits in time, until 4 years after I applied and lost my home as a result, so Im not making this stuff up about VA wanting more homeless Vets.  I looked in my records, too, and I told several docs I would be homeless...VA did not care and did not listen.  They awarded me 0 percent, even after an appeal.  Im just telling you to "hunker down" save your money and prepare for a long wait, tho I agree I just posted it in black and white, above, that you are to get 100% for a TKR when the knee is SC for a year, then 30 percent after TKR "as a minimum".  
You could try telling VA that not getting your benefits timely would be a hardship and likely result in homelessness...maybe someone will listen to you, even tho they did not listen to me.  Yours is a little more cut and dry as you have already been awarded SC for your knees, so their is no debate as to whether or not you deserve temp. 100%.  
I have never figured out why VA is so fast at getting VA employees their paychecks.   They seemed to have figured out that if they dont, the VA employees will get mad and quit.  However, even with all this 'end Veteran homelessness"  stuff going on, they still manage to find glitches to hold up our benefits until we become homeless.  Im not trying to scare you, Im trying to PREPARE you.  Hopefully, those "glitches" that have haunted so many of our claims wont also haunt yours.  
Sometimes it IS the VEts fault..because he did not do one or more things required by VA to get his benefits.  You dont want that to be the case, so file for an increase NOW as well as file a NOD to get back pay.  

Broncovet has given some very good info. I forgot my neighbor had TKR and recieved 100% while in recovery in mean time he applied for a increase and was awarded a p&T 6 months after a C&P he had a year after surgury. was given 60% 
not elective is in your favor. I have to get left shoulder replaced just had the right done 4 yrs ago i had recieved 100& temp till i was rehabilitated lasted 9 months. The VA is trying so hard to update their systems and it changes alot. Stay positive and Supportive as you have its alot of red tape but you have a great group of info here at HADit. Stick to it and dont fall victim to them making it so frustraiting you just give up and get everything you are owed. Hope he feels better and with the replacement 800mg Motrin helps alo espescially when cold or wet weather is comming in and the aches set it.

Eben is usually behind the mainstream. You Need a good VSO preferably one who is in the Regional office. Most have one DAV American leion ect. Get their number and it will most likely help get answers faster. (It helped in my case)
The Flag happened to me a few times also get the VSO on it if it comes back. Stay on your VSO not alot but to stay rellevant they work with alot of Vets.
The total Knee replacement is it elective or i am guessing not by the VA?
Financial Harship sometimes works sometimes does not. Ihave submitted 3 and 1 was approved. But every situation is different. The VA is logged still so it get a red tab added to the file to be looked at to see if it warrents a expidited claim. Thats how it was explained to me.
Please wait for some more seasoned Vets here for input as i just posted my experiences that i had. Its a cat and mouse game just keep your ducks in the row and wish you the best..
 

Ok today i had a C&P recertification 5yr reeval. I arrived early with my spouse and waited for the Dr. After an hr wait the dr asked if i would mind his colleauge to sit in on the exam with him as he is learning to be a rater. The exam went well i think but before making any notations he would ask the other dr who seemed at least 30yrs on My dr if he had any questions. He did 2 every time he was asked. Then i hear a BOOM and jump they sat looking at me. said its just the toilet. Bullshit sounded like someone dropped a weight on concrete floor right next door.
My C&P was for bipolar it didnt mention my ptsd anxiety or any other MH that where in that group when it was rated at 100%. Now i asked the dr and he said no this is for the Bipolar only which is what i am rated 100% for. We did means test ect then almost at the end the Main dr picked up the DSM 5 and pointed to a line and said to the other dr I think i will be adding this and the other dr conncurred. Adding What?
Can C&P Dr add issues to a reevaluation?
Anyone else have a sit in Dr?
He did state the usual in the begining that this is not random or that i was selected but to verify if i was still Bad, better, or worse. He said he was basing it off of the old C&P that was done. And he did refer to my VA health records and did ask me alot about my violence that has been documented matter of fact that was the most spoken about thing besides my relationships as i stated that i dont have. and with my wife and kids i am distant. My spouse was going to talk to them but they did say that they didnt need anything from her.
Asked if i was doing better on med alot of times i stated that they helped most of the time but i mostly stay to myself at home away from my kids wife ect as i do.
Im gonna have heartburn till i see the C&P in Bluebutton 3 days and today is thursday so probly not till next week some time UGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

First, the VA can not reduce you until they send you a "proposal to reduce" 60 days in advance for said reduction.  You must be given an opportunity for a hearing.  If they do send a reduction proposal, then I recommend you request a hearing.  
Next, since you have had a rating since 2009, you have passed the "5 year" protection mark.  See reg below:
3.344 Stabilization of disability evaluations.
(a) Examination reports indicating improvement. Rating agencies will handle cases affected by change of medical findings or diagnosis, so as to produce the greatest degree of stability of disability evaluations consistent with the laws and Department of Veterans Affairs regulations governing disability compensation and pension. It is essential that the entire record of examinations and the medical-industrial history be reviewed to ascertain whether the recent examination is full and complete, including all special examinations indicated as a result of general examination and the entire case history. This applies to treatment of intercurrent diseases and exacerbations, including hospital reports, bedside examinations, examinations by designated physicians, and examinations in the absence of, or without taking full advantage of, laboratory facilities and the cooperation of specialists in related lines. Examinations less full and complete than those on which payments were authorized or continued will not be used as a basis of reduction. Ratings on account of diseases subject to temporary or episodic improvement, e.g., manic depressive or other psychotic reaction, epilepsy, psychoneurotic reaction, arteriosclerotic heart disease, bronchial asthma, gastric or duodenal ulcer, many skin diseases, etc., will not be reduced on any one examination, except in those instances where all the evidence of record clearly warrants the conclusion that sustained improvement has been demonstrated. Ratings on account of diseases which become comparatively symptom free (findings absent) after prolonged rest, e.g. residuals of phlebitis, arteriosclerotic heart disease, etc., will not be reduced on examinations reflecting the results of bed rest. Moreover, though material improvement in the physical or mental condition is clearly reflected the rating agency will consider whether the evidence makes it reasonably certain that the improvement will be maintained under the ordinary conditions of life. When syphilis of the central nervous system or alcoholic deterioration is diagnosed following a long prior history of psychosis, psychoneurosis, epilepsy, or the like, it is rarely possible to exclude persistence, in masked form, of the preceding innocently acquired manifestations. Rating boards encountering a change of diagnosis will exercise caution in the determination as to whether a change in diagnosis represents no more than a progression of an earlier diagnosis, an error in prior diagnosis or possibly a disease entity independent of the service-connected disability. When the new diagnosis reflects mental deficiency or personality disorder only, the possibility of only temporary remission of a super-imposed psychiatric disease will be borne in mind. (b) Doubtful cases. If doubt remains, after according due consideration to all the evidence developed by the several items discussed in paragraph (a) of this section, the rating agency will continue the rating in effect, citing the former diagnosis with the new diagnosis in parentheses, and following the appropriate code there will be added the reference “Rating continued pending reexamination ___ months from this date, §3.344.” The rating agency will determine on the basis of the facts in each individual case whether 18, 24 or 30 months will be allowed to elapse before the reexamination will be made. (c) Disabilities which are likely to improve. The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section apply to ratings which have continued for long periods at the same level (5 years or more). They do not apply to disabilities which have not become stabilized and are likely to improve. Reexaminations disclosing improvement, physical or mental, in these disabilities will warrant reduction in rating.

I just got the letter today regarding my appointment with C&p. It states that my VA facility has been contacted by a regional office to schedule me for a C&p exam. Does this sound like routine procedure then? I haven't had a C&p exam in 5 years, so I would assume so.

Thoughts?

Since you are apparently SC for your knee issue, then, yes you "should" get 100% temporary for your knee replacement.  Vets compensation is full of glitches, tho,  and these glitches often lead to homelessness.   
If you have little/no income, and served in wartime, and are not working, then you should likely apply for NSC pension.  Its easier to get than compensation and sometimes happens fairly quickly.   You can be on pension while applying for compensation.  
Ten percent sounds low to me if you need new knees.  It should be 20 or 30, as TKR is not for a mild knee problem..its for very serious knee problems.   You can/should file a NOD disputing the 10 % and allege that your TKR shows the condition is more severe than "just" 10%.  

Good luck and dont overthink it. Hoping for the best i just had my review c&p today i was so stressed but it turned out easier than i was expecting. Be truthful and go by your worst day when explaining things and most important Dont lose faith you have an army here at hadit and vso all on your side!!

I'd be surprised if you get a increase % rating  or unless your already S.C. ?
  Hell you might get a proposal to reduce?
 5 mim is ridiculous amount of time to do an exam like you had.
& Usually when a Examiner tells you ''its not me that makes the decision''  you can just about bet your boots its a denial.
I hope I 'm wrong  but from my experience that's usually the way it went.
Good Luck
 
................Buck

I would think it would be the same if you would have had a QTC C & P exam but what a lot of veterans forget is when they have a C & P exam at their VAMC they forget what VAMC stand for which is (Veterans Administration Medical Center) meaning that it is more of a training facility (school) than it is a hospital.  Yes, they like to ask other doctors to come in but you as a patient can refuse.  Also an examiner can add his/her opinion or anything they feel is necessary to your exam. 

if you have your c&P online or in front of you you will see where it will quote your occupational and social impairment. They pretty much go verbatim there but some dont but if it says total O and S then its a start. its hard to give hard answers without history and even then it is a collective estimate. There are alot of seasoned vets here im just forwarding info i recieved from others here. It is a hard circle stick to your guns. Get a good vso with a constant open line of communication and family support helps.
Total occupational and social impairment, along with good descriptive notes from c&P and you primary Dr, are what you need to get from 50-100. But once at 100 they will most likely have you scheduled for a reveiw at future date so you will be 100 TDIU and at reveiw which i have mine tommorrow they can possibly make you P&T
 

also if you are on ssdi and are not working or school that will help see your social impairment. good luck

You want to look at what he stated about Occupational and social impairment. Here are the requirements. But just if you meet all the checked boxes the DRO willbe looking at this and all your recent past dr visits, i.e. have you been going regularly are you on medications and taking as perscribed. i bolded and underlined the big ones. Now say you C&P says you meet the 70% requirement that doesnt mean that is what you will get again it is up to the rater. I was given 70 my last c&P but given 100%TDIU. I actually have my reveiw tommorrow so im a little stressed. But i see my VA Shrink regular basis( regular meaning when she is available) was monthly but 3-4 months now. And medications im on a bunch but take them as needed.  hope this helps. if you find the rest of the report there are very knowledgable guys on here that can help.
 

No.  You should not worry.  Go to your scheduled appointment prepared.  
1.  Do not exaggerate any symptoms.  They will smell that and the outcome wont be good.  
2.  Have your answer ready when the doc asks, "How are you?"  Most of us answer "FINE" but this is not the time to UNexaggerate your symptoms, either.  When the doc asks how you are, if you got into a fight about a parking space in the VA parking lot, then tell him this.  Don't say "fine", when you are not.  
If you are "fine" the day of the exam, then tell the examiner what happened Tuesday when you got in a fight with your wife and the cops were called.  Example (Remember, never lie or exaggerate):
DOC:  How are you?
Vet:  "Not as bad as Tuesday."  (or last month). ( Now,Tell him what happened on your worst day, not today if today is your best day.).   "  I got in a fight over a parking spot and the fight moved inside VA.  Im glad nobody got hurt, but I dont know why my anger boils over like this sometimes.   Im not working now, and that could be a good thing, given my suicidal ideations on (date).  Im not real angry today, fortunately, but I never know what could trigger it in an instant.  
When a Vet responds to the question, "fine", he has to backpedal most of the rest of the exam.  Yes, I know most of us were taught not to bore others with our health issues and just answer fine no matter what.  Dont do that.  

as Jesusplay stated, you are looking @70%. with the possibility of automatic U.I. If you don't put in for it as soon as you get your rating. I think you may even get 100% if you are not currently or you cant hold a steady Job.

looks like 70% to me

first dsm 5 I've seen. screw gaf scores and good luck

Everything seems to finally be moving bud. Just wait until BBE shows up in your mail and let us know what they say. I feel for you, as my wife and I have gone thru are savings in the last year since I was medically retired Feb 13. I have a current claim for SSDI, and an FDC to have my 80% SC increased. Good luck bud and try not to worry so much. I wish you and the family the best, and hope you have a good weekend.