Traumatic Arthritis - Good Supporting Evidence?

[happyme]

I an currently rated at 20% - 10% each knee for chondromalacia, postoperative -- I have arthritis that was spotted on active duty before the surgeries (I was 29 when the doctor found it) and this was after dealing with several knee injuries from training, running, and such. I ran competitively (Army Ten-Milers, Distance Relays, Ultra-Marathon) for several Army posts/units (Fort Polk, EUSA, 82nd Airborne Div) while I was in service.

My arthritis is much worse now, especially having had two surgeries on my right knee on active duty and one on my left knee. I submitted a new claim for traumatic arthritis... not certain if I should have called it that or degen joint disease. That aside, I have to work with what I have now. I was going to submit NCOERS, awards, newspaper articles, team pictures, race results, recent medical records from the VA confirming arthritis and tx of arthritis is ongoing, medical journal articles about medications for arthritis I was tx w/ and px on active duty, and medical journal articles about traumatic arthritis for evidence to support my claim.

What else should I include? Does anyone else have any additional guidance or advice? Thank you in advance.

[carlie]

I an currently rated at 20% - 10% each knee for chondromalacia, postoperative -- I have arthritis that was spotted on active duty before the surgeries (I was 29 when the doctor found it) and this was after dealing with several knee injuries from training, running, and such. I ran competitively (Army Ten-Milers, Distance Relays, Ultra-Marathon) for several Army posts/units (Fort Polk, EUSA, 82nd Airborne Div) while I was in service.

My arthritis is much worse now, especially having had two surgeries on my right knee on active duty and one on my left knee. I submitted a new claim for traumatic arthritis... not certain if I should have called it that or degen joint disease. That aside, I have to work with what I have now. I was going to submit NCOERS, awards, newspaper articles, team pictures, race results, recent medical records from the VA confirming arthritis and tx of arthritis is ongoing, medical journal articles about medications for arthritis I was tx w/ and px on active duty, and medical journal articles about traumatic arthritis for evidence to support my claim.

What else should I include? Does anyone else have any additional guidance or advice? Thank you in advance.

happy,

Since the knees are already SC'd there would be no need to submit

all the running stuff from active duty.

All you need do is let the VBA know you feel the disability in your knees have

become worse to now include DDD and you feel an increase in compensation is warranted.

This would probably be based on things like Range of Motion (ROM), your gait or any secondary conditions.

You can submit updated medical evidence that you have, if it is sufficient, VBA can

use it to rate for an increase in evaluation or they could order a new C&P exam to determine the current

level of disability.

JMHO

[caubulldog]

I have been rated for this since 1992 in right knee. The Va doctors then tried to say I had no arthritis for years when I was begging for surgery or something to make the pain go way. I had surgery this past February and pictures were taken with arthroscope showing arthritis throughout entire joint. I am now hunting him down for my copy of pictures he took to support an increase.Carlie is correct if you are already service connected you need medical evidence to warrant a increase and of course someone at the regional office who actually reads. X-rays & Mri's can show increased damage but the joint is rated on range of motion,stability,and functional loss. Make sure you stop the doctor when you feel pain as that is your range of motion. I am only 10% myself but wish you luck ,knees are a hard injury to deal with.

[Hoppy]

I have been rated for this since 1982.

Pictures are neat. I have two surgeries worth. However,

VA raters do not know what they are looking at when you send them pictures.

Send them written documents signed by the doctors who have interpreted the pictures.

Send 'report of the surgery" etc.

Edited April 11, 2011 by Hoppy

[retiredat44]

I an currently rated at 20% - 10% each knee for chondromalacia, postoperative -- I have arthritis that was spotted on active duty before the surgeries (I was 29 when the doctor found it) and this was after dealing with several knee injuries from training, running, and such. I ran competitively (Army Ten-Milers, Distance Relays, Ultra-Marathon) for several Army posts/units (Fort Polk, EUSA, 82nd Airborne Div) while I was in service.

My arthritis is much worse now, especially having had two surgeries on my right knee on active duty and one on my left knee. I submitted a new claim for traumatic arthritis... not certain if I should have called it that or degen joint disease. That aside, I have to work with what I have now. I was going to submit NCOERS, awards, newspaper articles, team pictures, race results, recent medical records from the VA confirming arthritis and tx of arthritis is ongoing, medical journal articles about medications for arthritis I was tx w/ and px on active duty, and medical journal articles about traumatic arthritis for evidence to support my claim.

What else should I include? Does anyone else have any additional guidance or advice? Thank you in advance.

[retiredat44]

I an currently rated at 20% - 10% each knee for chondromalacia, postoperative -- I have arthritis that was spotted on active duty before the surgeries (I was 29 when the doctor found it) and this was after dealing with several knee injuries from training, running, and such. ..........

I was diagnosed with chondromalacia in my left knee while on active duty, yet they denied me in my claim, which is now on appeal....

they are bastards when it comes to getting a claim approved even when you have proof...

it can come and go... when it comes, it heurts like hell and can stop you from walking...

my problem is that combined with a bad back , degenrative disc disease and other leg problems, soetimes you can't tell when your leg just aches from other problems... only during a strong attack you can be sure of which disease is acting up... but it can be crippling...

Edited April 11, 2011 by retiredat44

[vmo]

I am sc both knees for arthr. The VA raters will look for: (in addition to arthritis) excess fore and aft movement, lateral instability, cartilage tear, and restricted (limited) motion from pain , etc. *You can receive a seperate rating for each. Also, whether it is "tramatic arthritis"(injury) or "degenerative arthritis" (age,wear,tear,of life) usually will not make much difference. You do not need your military service records as you are already service connected. However, if they (VA) do not have records of surgery "after" military service---VA will need them. *A current written orthopedic physician statement supported by xray and MRI copies is what you need,(provided the statement shows increase in severity of the knee residuals).