Eligibility Question

[bunkerbuilt]

I served in the USMC and also served in the U.S. Army. I started having shoulder problems(Dislocations) in the Marines in 1998. I went to the hospital for it back then as well. I was discharged from the Marines not long thereafter. I then enlisted in the Army. I started having shoulder problems again(Recurrent Dislocation). The Army discharged me as Med 200. I was was discharged in Oct. 2001. I had shoulder surgery Feb. 2002 and have been under doctor's care ever since. It was only under vigorous training that I started having shoulder problems. Can anyone advise whether I shoulder be eligible and also I'm trying for compensation. I already went for my C&P exam the last week of Oct. 2011. Any feedback would be great! Thanks!

[usmcgirl]

the VA will have obtained your health records from the Corps as far as clinic visits - those were not retired to the national archives (VA took over getting Marine Military Medical records in May of 1994) Only thing Your Service records would have as far as medically would be if you were on a MED or PEB - which would be important for your claim. The VA will have also obtained your service records which would have included them if you had a PEB/MEB also. Same goes for the Army. As far as the C&P all the wording is correct and you will get SC'ed for it since the injury happened while in service. What is going to be important now is how it is effecting your everyday life. what you can and can't do. activities that limit you. your pain level ect. also you can be compensated for your scaring from the surgery if it is mishapen or irritating, itchy. as long as you get SC'd for it now...that is the important thing. later on when the arthritis sets in you can always file for an increase.

[cooter]

Here's a link that will take you to "Schedule of ratings"...2010 CFR Title 38, Volume 1...Scroll down till you find 4.71a, then click on the PDF icon to the left....Then scroll down to "shoulder and Arm".

This will give you an idea about what the ratings are for your shoulder condition.

The way it sounds from the C&P report, it's a done deal. Remember, you need at least 30% to be eligible for dependents pay.

Coot