[varicose veins]

I have been filing for comp and pension for varicose veins as well as secondary conditions which was tact on to my high blood pressure and cardiovascular  issues also noted in my military records, and being treated while on active duty, I have been currently being treated for this condition since 2006 by the VA, I have been submitting claims to the Comp and pension, been denied for 8 years up until now I have my first comp and pension exam, it only took 9 years to get them to see me for a service connected issue. Her report was due 9 days ago and still she has not even wrote anything to the comp and pension board. I have a fear she will defer this to someone else and I will have to be seen all over again, even through she is a specialist in this field as a cardiovascular doctor. I went through this same issue when I filed a claim for Malaria currently that says NSC but yet I contracted it during the 70's while in the Marines and so recorded in my military records, but that's a different issue.

Is there a reason why she is not responding to the deadline? Hell I had to stand butt naked in front of her so she could measure my veins, can't get compression hose from the VA unless I'm 10% service connected for this condition, hell you can't get them if you are 0 % either. These are not cheap on the outside to buy. The VA determined that I need to wear a 20/30 compression stockings.

Any help in this matter would be nice, thank you

[Malaria]

Does anyone know what the disability code is for having Malaria is? I'm trying to submit a claim for Malaria thanks to the jungle warfare training I had, too funny. But anyway I need to know what I need to look up and what they look for like the disability exams. Even through it is in my medical records as having it and been exposed to Malaria The VA tells me that I have to have an attack of Malaria before they can determined what percentage I get and what type of Malaria I have. Right now I'm not being treated for it but because my last attack was back in 1994. Thanks for any information

[Knee Brace]

Does anyone know what the Disibility rating is for a Knee Brace? this is for a unloaded metal brace. Is it 10% 20% 30% etc. etc.

Thank You.

[Knee Injury]

I have a service connected injury from active duty, I get 20% for pain left knee. I have had two surgerys so far on the same injury, and it took 12 years just to even get up to 20% for the left knee. The VA doctor says the next surgery would be a partial or full knee replacement. I was told by the VA that a total knee replacement is no more or less than 30% after your 3 month rehab. So my question is will this affect my 20% that I have (Knee) or will the knee replacement be a seperate award? in another words will the 30% add to the 20% I get for knee pain? or will they just add a 10% increase to the 20% I now get for the knee? My total service connected disibility is 40% at this time. Thank You for any help.

[Knee C&p Exam]

Finished my C&P exam for my left knee as a secondary claim for Scars/Arthritis, I saw a Nurse Practioner, for the exam, don't know if this is a good thing for not. But he did take the time to do the exam, and I thought I received a good exam. He was reading off a questioner from the rating board for him to ask must be standard questions they go by. Well he did the range of motion, pressed down on my scars to see if I had any pain stil after a year which he found out I still do to my scars from my last two surgerys for my left knee. He also looked at the MRI and X-rays and attached them to the report, read that past doctors notes about arthritis. He said he will note to the rating board that the MRI shows that I have a very bad ACL what ever that means but it did not sound good. He pulled on my knee and told me it was not suppose to be moving like that and I had too much play between the upper and lower knee. He also noted for them that I wear a metal brace for my left knee on a perminate basis except for going to bed. H e was also confused why the rating board did not give me something for this because I should have gotten atleast a 10% for the brace. I did tell him that I applyed for the clothing allowence because of the brace I won't hearing back until august of 2011.

Now I will wait until monday and pull the C&P exam to see how it went. Thanks for the input. Cheers

[Knee C&p Exam]

Hello, I'm going to have a C&P exam for my left knee as a secondary claim for Scars/Arthritis. Since I was turned down for an increase due to surgery.. My medical records due state that I have arthritis and scars due to the past two surgerys on my knee. My question is has anyone received a service connected claim for these two conditions? Also what kind of exam does this involve? Thanks for any input. Cheers

[Service Connected Left Knee]

Ok I received my temporary 100% for my left knee. due to surgery again. I was denied my increase for my left knee due to the fact that the VA states you can not get both. yes they said BOTH. I subbmitted two seperate claims one for the left knee for an increase, and one for the temporary 100% So my claim has been sitting out there for at least 9 months until I received my letter. Well some how the VA mirriored both as one claim which canceled the other one out. here's the kicker the letter states that I did receive and granted 10% increase for my left knee but it was taken back because the VA states that you can not have a percentage for disibility that is over 100%. Go figure. so now I have to eaither appeal it or request a whole new service connected increase again for the left knee. This is my second surgery and I now were a metal brace for my left knee issued by the VA which somehow the VA left that out of the letter.

Well I was told I could file a secondary for scars and Arthritis due to my knee surgerys.

I have another question for anyone out there I have had left foot problems ever since my knee surgery. Been seeing the foot doctor at the VA for this condition, so my question is can I or what claim can I submitt to mirrior with my service connected left knee?

any help would be great or if anyone knows how to write a statement to apply for these issues would be helpfull.

Have a safe Holiday...Cheers

[Knee Injury]

[so does anyone out there know if approved for an increase what I might be looking at for disibility percentage? I already get 10% for my knee, they have it listed as continueing left knee pain. Go Figure. Thanks for any input

C&P exam says

right knee unaffected range of motion is 0 to 114 degrees extension/flexion

Left knee range of motion is 8 degrees to 104 degrees. He cannot extend beyond 8 degrees. he has positive anterior drawer sign, The veteran does have TED hose on for varicose veins. There is crepitus with range of motion. The left knee is mildly worsening over time, as indicated as second surgical repair and the use of an unloaded brace at this time. The use of the brace would be thought to be chronic at this time.

[Knee Injury]

C&P exam says

right knee unaffected range of motion is 0 to 114 degrees extension/flexion

Left knee range of motion is 8 degrees to 104 degrees. He cannot extend beyond 8 degrees. he has positive anterior drawer sign, The veteran does have TED hose on for varicose veins. There is crepitus with range of motion. The left knee is mildly worsening over time, as indicated as second surgical repair and the use of an unloaded brace at this time. The use of the brace would be thought to be chronic at this time.

[Knee Injury]

Hello. I had a knee injury back in 2001 on active duty. I had a torn Meniscus/ACL tear. I had surgery and received 10% VA disibility from the VA for this condition. I had surgery again on the same knee in 2010 and the VA Dr. not only worked on my torn Meniscus/ACL again because the tear had gotten bigger through the years and plus the military left some debree around my knee cap which resulted in having arthritus in that area. Well he did some shaving of the bone which resulted with continuing pain after the surgery. The same Dr. has me is a ACL Metal Brace which I have been told I will be wearing this for a long time.

I have completed my C&P exam for an increase due to the second surgery and now wearing a ACL metal brace. I have never been to a C&P exam that only took 15 minutes. it was like I was in and then out. All he did was looked at my brace, and looked at my knee, took some measurments of the knee, and out the door I went. So I don't know if that is a good thing or not. I have waited 7 months for the C&P exam. I did asked him how long does he think I will hear back from the VA, he said normally in about 6 to 12 weeks but in your case about a week.

So does anyone out there know if approved for an increase what I might be looking at for disibility percentage? I already get 10% for my knee, they have it listed as continueing left knee pain. Go Figure. Thanks for any input

[Secondary Claim]

Say I have a good question. after my injury with my left knee back in 2001 while on active duty I have been having foot problems possibly due to my knee injury. after my seconed surgery in Feb My foot has been getting worse. I have been seeing the podiatry at the VA and I'm being treated for foot problems in the last year or so, so my question is can I submit a secondary claim for my foot or do I need to submit a whole new claim. this would be for my left knee and left foot only. I already submitted a increase claim for my left knee after my surgery still waiting for comp & pension exam. thank you for any direction

[Service Connected Increase]

Thank you for the information

The Knee and Leg

Rating

5256 Knee, ankylosis of:

Extremely unfavorable, in flexion at an angle of 45° or more....................... 60

In flexion between 20° and 45°.......................................................................... 50

In flexion between 10° and 20°.......................................................................... 40

Favorable angle in full extension, or in slight flexion between 0° and 10° 30

5257 Knee, other impairment of:

Recurrent subluxation or lateral instability:

Severe..........................................................................

.................................. 30

Moderate........................................................................

................................ 20

Slight ................................................................................

............................. 10

5258 Cartilage, semilunar, dislocated, with frequent episodes of

"locking," pain, and effusion into the joint........................................................ 20

5259 Cartilage, semilunar, removal of, symptomatic...................................................... 10

5260 Leg, limitation of flexion of:

Flexion limited to 15°.............................................................................

............... 30

Flexion limited to 30°.............................................................................

............... 20

Flexion limited to 45°.............................................................................

............... 10

Flexion limited to 60°.............................................................................

................. 0

5261 Leg, limitation of extension of:

Extension limited to 45°.............................................................................

.......... 50

Extension limited to 30°.............................................................................

.......... 40

Extension limited to 20°.............................................................................

.......... 30

Extension limited to 15°.............................................................................

.......... 20

Extension limited to 10°.............................................................................

.......... 10

Extension limited to 5°..............................................................................

.............. 0

5262 Tibia and fibula, impairment of:

Nonunion of, with loose motion, requiring brace............................................ 40

Malunion of:

With marked knee or ankle disability........................................................ 30

With moderate knee or ankle disability.................................................... 20

With slight knee or ankle disability........................................................... 10

5263 Genu recurvatum (acquired, traumatic, with weakness and

insecurity in weight-bearing objectively demonstrated) ................................ 10

.

[Sprained Hand/fingers]

Hello I may have a stupid question but I have been talking to several veterans and they have told me they have received serviced connected claim for sprained areas, like sprained hand, and or finger or fingers. My question is back in 1977 while in the marine corps. I was a tank commander and my hatch came unlocked while driving through ruff roads and terrain. The hatch came back and hit my lower neck area C-5 and C-6 so I just found out that I have damage to this area to include pinched nerves. This has not been recorded in my medical records. I tride to lock the hatch back it came down and hit my hand and my fingers were also hit by the tank hatch. well to make this short the hand injuries are recorded in my medical book as being treated for hand and fingers for a sprain. I have copies of the injury which is recorded but there is nothing that says the hatch came back and hit my neck area. So my sprain was treated with a brace for the hand and fingers which I wore for two weeks, only one finger looks out of place. So could this be a valued service connected claim?

[Knee Surgery]

Rhodesia, I have surgery on both knees in 03,05 both were done on an outpatient basis. I received 100% convelescense both times from the VA. I didn't even have the surgeries at a VA facility and received 100%. Someone at the VA is not telling you the truth. I would apply for convelescense. Good luck

/doc

Thanks for the information so if this is true and the VA told me I could not then how would I write requesting for this? During my surgery I was in the VA Hosital for 12 hours then convelescense for 4 weeks at home. this will beside my increase I'm going to put in for my knee surgery which now after 6 weeks is still not right for some unknown reason. first surgery in 2001, second surgery in 2010, same knee. Any help or direction in this matter would be great in helping out a poor serviveman away from home. (That was Lame).

[Knee Surgery]

What was the diagnosis of the original knee problem, and what was the diagnosis of this problem that required surgery again. Bergie is right at the very least you should receive 100% for convelescense.

/doc

The VA told me I have to be in the VA hospital for more than 24 hours in orer to receive 100% for convelescense. I was in short stay for about 12 hours. Yes this was a required surgery again for Torn Medial Meniscus. The military did not do a very good job so the VA had to go back in there and fix some torn menicus. somehow I had some debree still left in my knee and 9 years later it ended up with my knee rubbing bone to bone so he had to repair the torn areas, do some cutting and scrape about 30% of old debree from the knee bone area.

[Knee Surgery]

well the VA told me I have to be in the VA hospital for more than 24 hours in orer to receive 100% for convelescense. I was in short stay for about 12 hours. Yes this was a required surgery again for Torn Medial Meniscus. The military did not do a very good job so the VA had to go back in there and fix some torn menicus. somehow I had some debree still left in my knee and 9 years later it ended up with my knee rubbing bone to bone so he had to repair the torn areas, do some cutting and scrape about 30% of old debree from the knee bone area.

[Knee Surgery]

Hello, I have a question I have a service connected injury from active duty for my knee back in 2001. I receive 10% from the VA, on 2010 I had to have surgery again on my service connected injury. I wanted to know am I eligible for an increase on the same injury since the VA had to go back in and fix what the militay did not? I had an orthroscopic surgery and this time the VA Dr. Told me he had to shave some areas on my knee (bone) to clean it up. So I'm now wearing a knee brace issued by the VA Dr. So what would be a good opening line to use as for a increase for disibility? when requesting it. thanks for any input

[Ed Claim]

Are you working?

Yes I'am working

[Ed Claim]

both were filed on the same day but seperate claims

[Ed Claim]

I received my award letter from the VA granting me 10% for HBP to include the special monthly compensation. I started out at 0% for HBP it only took 5 years to get this far. so now I'm at 30%

[Ed Claim]

I have been informed by the regional board that my increase for HBP and a secondary claim for ED was merged into one claim even though I had to see two separte C&P doctors. The regional board did not tell me why but all they said was it was sent for approval and I should be getting a letter in the mail. could not tell me anything more not even a hint if I was awared or denied. so I sit and wait. My question is can they merged both claims into one? thanks

[Ed Claim]

On a 50/50 clai9m the VA is supposed to give benefit of doubt to Veteran. However I have rarely seen that happen. Flipping a coin would be more accurate than the current VA Disposition

Called up to the Regional office I was informed my claim is being signed off, what ever that means. would not tell me if I was awarded the ED claim and the increase claim for HBP, would not even give me a hint just said it is being signed off for approval so now I sit and wait.

[Ed Claim]

Well just finished reading my C&P notes for the ED exam I had, the Dr. stated it was a 50/50 in her assement for the overall exam. so what does the rating board do now toss B) a coin?

[Ed Claim]

Yes and a check sheet she went from that asked you allot of questions from the Rating board. pertty simple, mostly asked about history/ kidney problems/cancer/prostate/going to the bathroom at night/how many times do you go to the bathroom during the day, etc etc etc. and one quetsion about sex life, and they take your blood pressure 3 times as required by the Rating board well so I was told.

[Ed Claim]

ok now I think we are having TMI with this topic ;) thank you all for responding, well had the ED exam yesterday it went pretty good, without the movie's just kidding here, basicly it comes down to the medications that are the main cause, I saw a female Dr. that was different after the exam/questioning/interogation I was fit to be a Federal Citizen, hahaha that was funny. Well now she went over my C&P folder which now looks bigger that the Bible and noticed that I had been seeing the VA for foot problems and I wear arch supports and have been getting injections in the arch area for the past 4 years. She noted that since I borke both knees on active duty I should put in a claim for secondary condition for my feet. reason is my knee condition would warrant a valued claim that the military injury aggrvated the condition in my knee, I told her I tride this before and the VA came back stating that I have no record of feet problems while in the Marine Corps. so therefore my claim was denied for reason of NO MEDICAL ENTRYS IN SMR ( serviceman medical records).