daveinky

Yes, I filed a claim once and did it by myself using the VONAPP website. When you want to file for an increase, you cannot use VONAPP, so I need to find out where to go and who to have help me do this. Or can I download forms online and put in a claim that way? I'm in a very rural area and it's hard to find anyone that can help me with this. The VA rep position for my region, which is about 8 counties, is currently vacant (job opportunity??). So, I guess it's just going to take a little more digging and searching. As far as the VOCREHAB, I found that anyone rated at least 10% can apply for it, but at 10% you have to show a serious employment handicap. I'm going to go ahead and apply and see what happens. If I don't get it now, I'll wait until I get my increase and get it then. Thanks again for the help!

Thanks for all the replies and advice. john999, or anyone else, Who do I see or how do I go about VA vocrehab/job training. I am currently only 10% SC for my knee and thought I had to be at least 30% to get vocrehab. I will be 40 in Dec. and that is what my concern is as to the hard work (physically demanding) and making my condition worse. The work I do already bothers me as to the constant pain and also fear of making things even worse. I have already been told by VA physical therapist that my back condition will not get any better and that the PT is only to try and keep it from getting any worse. Do I need to get my back SC'd before I can get any vocrehab? Thanks again for the advice.

Hello, I have read quite a bit of info on here but am lost as to what I need to do for myself. I am SC 10% for osteoarthritis in left knee. I started having back pain in Nov. 06 and finally had MRI which showed facet arthritis, bulging disc, and foraminal narrowing all on left side at L5-S1. I go for my last visit of PT tomorrow, which hasn't helped and meds haven't helped. I am self employed and do construction work, remodel, decks, hardwood floors,tile work, etc.. I haven't worked the last couple of month's due to my back and the Physical Therapist said I shouldn't be doing the type of work I do. So, I am really lost as to what I should do. Who do I go see to try and help me with a possible claim for my back problems possibly caused by my knee and trying to increase rating on my knee? I know it's going to be a battle trying to connect my back problems to my knee, but I have to try. I live in a very rural area that is mainly coal mine related and don't have much qualifications for those type of jobs. Is there somewhere I can go for employment assistance? Does the VA offer any kind of help for someone in my situation? Thanks for any help and or advice.

Hi all, My name is Dave and I live in the hills of eastern Kentucky. I have a service connected rating of 10% on my left knee. When discharged, they called it Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. When I received my award letter, the Va is calling it Ostearthritis of the left knee and awarded me 10%. To make this not too long of a story, I have finally settled back down in my home state of Ky. and went to the local VA clinic at the first of the year and got registered there. They scheduled me an appointment with a Dr. and I also saw the DAV rep. When I had my first visit with the Doc, he asked me to tell him everyhthing that was bothering me, which I did. Obviously my knee was one, right shoulder which had bothered me for a few years(not sure how it was hurt), and my lower left back which had recently started hurting ( not sure what happened to it either). Doc scheduled me for x-rays on all three and I went a had them x-rayed. Three months later I get an appointment and find out the results of my x-rays. By this time, by back is hurting all the time, my knee has always hurt since the original injury, and shoulder just comes and goes. X-rays just show arthritis in my knee, bone spurs in my shoulder, and slight scoliosis and just arthritis in my lower back. He ordered an MRI for my back since the pain I was decribing didn't quite fit what showed in the x-ray. When I went back for the results of the MRI on my back, I asked the Doc about getting an MRI on my knee. He told me they wouldn't authorize an MRI on my knee, and they could just give me an anti-inflamatory or drain the fluid if there was visible swelling or possibly a steroid injection. So, my question is, how do I go about getting new evidence about my knee if the VA won't do anything other than an x-ray? I know my knee has gotten worse and I believe it's more than just arthritis. I can't afford to have an MRI done on my own. I also believe my back problem is related to my knee and am trying to tie the two together and possibly make a claim for that as well. Any suggestions and /or advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Dave