How To Go About Proving Secondary Connection.

[Greginaz]

Fourteen years ago I was medically discharged due to knee problems. I submitted to the VA for disability six years later and was granted ten percent for damage to the medial meniscus, with a provision for recognizing instability in the knee.

Now I have arthritis in every joint in my lower body and lower back.

My question is what do I need to do to find out if the arthritis is a secondary effect of my damaged knee, and not just old age (at 35) like the VA docs are telling me it is. I know I would need a nexus report at some point but is this where I should begin?

If it is the beginning point should I just ask the VA or go to an independent examiner?

[purple]

Hi and welcome to Hadit!

Who dx your arthritis and when? Did you have any symtpoms of this while on active duty? If not....I guess I don't follow how knee damage would lead to lower body arthritis.....might be hard to prove to the VA.

[Greginaz]

I did report some pain in a couple of joints other than my one knee that is currently rated. however no follow up was done on this.

I understand that altered gait, from the knee injury, can result in early onset arthritis, and am trying to figure out how to find out if is the case for me.

[Wings]

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Unless another medical doctor has suggested the cause and effect of your SC Knees, I would begin by searching the BVA for similarities. See example http://www.va.gov/vetapp08/files3/0823540.txt

If you do have a doctor type person in your corner, then file a VA Claim and be prepared for a good fight. ~Wings

[Greginaz]

Sorry, the diagnosis is based on x-rays done by the VA during a treatment for a recent flair up

[Wings]

Sorry, the diagnosis is based on x-rays done by the VA during a treatment for a recent flair up

That's a good start. Ask your VA Primary Doctor what s/he thinks about the cause and effect/relationship between the two ... Search BVA for like Claims.

Follow your gut instincts. ~Wings