Good day folks,
I'm sitting at the computer 3 days post right knee surgery by a private doc and hospital paid for by VA through their ARCH program. I'm SC 30% total for "Residuals, Reiter's syndrome, with loss of..." with specifics for neck, left shoulder, right ankle, and thoracolumbar spine. My right knee was not counted in my disabilities, however anyone who knows autoimmune spondylarthropathies like Reiter's syndrome aka Reactive Arthritis or it's close cousin Ankylosing Spondylitis know how widespread the problems can get. I also had long bouts of Iritis that has left one pupil irregular and very sensitive to sunlight. I started a temporary 100% disability claim for convalescence since I'm expected to be out for 3 months (lots of walking, lifting, bending in my job with no chance for 'light duty'. Does the surgeon's note have to have any key phrases to make this convalescence claim legit?
Will there be a problem with the convalescence claim if it's not a currently compensated disability?
That knee has pages and pages of military health records showing treatments like steroid injections, etc all directly related to my underlying Reactive Arthritis. On the same claim form I'm requesting SC for the iritis and worsening neck symptoms causing radiculopathy down the left arm. Again, the disability verbiage refers to residuals, with loss of motion to cervical spine, so should the radiculopathy be a new claim or a worsening of the current one?