Service Connection? Bilateral Knees Djd

[william n]

i failed the entrance exam and went in on Med. Waiver for DJD knees..at boot camp i was examined for my knees[4wks.in] and they found a stress/fracture rt. leg below knee..SMR say probably due to marching,running,jumping,etc..placed in full length cast,continued on in training..fortunate never got set back in training, is there a service connect without IMO?? no,,$$..thanks williamn

[LarryJ]

DJD of the knee is just exactly that......DJD of the knee joint.

It should have nothing to do with any other part of the skeletal system.

If you leg was fractured BELOW the knee, then it should be considered as having been involved in an injury, in service, and should have nothing to do with arthritis of the knee.

To answer your question, yes, there is "service connection" if SMR's back up the fracture and treatment thereof.

First of all, obviously, there has to be a disability NOW, that is plausibly caused by your in-service fracture.

And, there has to be the existence of "proof" connecting your "now" disability to your in-service injury. That is called the "nexus". This so-called "nexus" can be provided by the examiner when you are sent for your C&P (compensation and pension) exam. If this exam does not provide the necessary proof......then you will need an Independent Medical Opinion from a specialist. If you have applied for Social Security benefits and have been examined by a doctor, for those benefits and found eligible, then you can use THAT medical exam and opinion as your IMO (sorta letting one gubbermint agency py for proof needed by another gubbermint agency, thereby costing you nada).

If you haven't applied for SSDI and you have a disabiling injury that does not allow you to be "gainfully employed",then that should be a step you should also be taking, in conjunction with your VA claim.

[william n]

DJD of the knee is just exactly that......DJD of the knee joint.

It should have nothing to do with any other part of the skeletal system.

If you leg was fractured BELOW the knee, then it should be considered as having been involved in an injury, in service, and should have nothing to do with arthritis of the knee.

To answer your question, yes, there is "service connection" if SMR's back up the fracture and treatment thereof.

First of all, obviously, there has to be a disability NOW, that is plausibly caused by your in-service fracture.

And, there has to be the existence of "proof" connecting your "now" disability to your in-service injury. That is called the "nexus". This so-called "nexus" can be provided by the examiner when you are sent for your C&P (compensation and pension) exam. If this exam does not provide the necessary proof......then you will need an Independent Medical Opinion from a specialist. If you have applied for Social Security benefits and have been examined by a doctor, for those benefits and found eligible, then you can use THAT medical exam and opinion as your IMO (sorta letting one gubbermint agency py for proof needed by another gubbermint agency, thereby costing you nada).

If you haven't applied for SSDI and you have a disabiling injury that does not allow you to be "gainfully employed",then that should be a step you should also be taking, in conjunction with your VA claim.

nada, have'nt heard that in awhile :) ..i understand you ..thanks again, williamn