Not really asking a question here, just providing my experience on this issue.
I already have a SC total knee replacement rated at 40%. In September of 2008 my knee gave way and I fell breaking my ankle in several places. I had surgical repair with internal fixation in my ankle. In December 2008 I claimed SC for my ankle injury and in November 2009 was granted an additional 10% upping me to 50%. (For some reason this was processed in Phoenix even though my local RO is Oakland.)
By that time I received that award, I had been diagnosed with traumatic arthritus and bone spurs in my ankle so in December 3, 2009 I appealed to the DRO in Oakland for consideration of the new diagnosis. I also took point by point issue with other problems in the SOC. Sometime after that I was diagnosed with nerve damage including scar neuroma and tarsel tunnel syndrome. I forwarded that evidence to the Oakland RO just over a year ago. Then In July 2011, I filed a new claim for peripheral neuropathy in all my extremities.
To my point, I probably have shot myself in the foot by trickling the new information in. I feel like every time I send something my file goes back to the bottom of the stack. 2 1/2 years and I don't think my appeal is advancing. I didn't go through my VSO because they had a history with losing my correspondence and generally dragging their feet.
According to IRIS emails and phone calls the RO has what they need. I read somewhere that appeals are supposed to go through the RO that made the initial decision. I wonder if that is a wrinkle that is causing some of the delay? Oakland vs Phoenix?