diabetes Claim Done Now The Question

[id_firefighter30]

Well I finally Got my explanation of benefits and i have a couple of questions so here goes a little bit of the history I am currently rated at 90%, 70% for depression 50% for sleep apnea and 10% for left knee and 10% for Left ankle also 10% for right lateral epicondilitis and 10% for tinnitus so I put in a claim June of last year for increase on L knee and ankle and also new right ankle instability and arthritis new in all lower joints ankles and knees and to reopen my Diabetes that was ruled non SC in 2011 Fast forward to today I have read the explanation many times and i have some questions that I am hopping that you all can help with so here goes.

First question is i know that the knee is the body part that can have more then one SC disability with out pyramiding the disabilities so when i got my letter it explains that the have awarded my arthritis claim and changed the the diagnostic code from 5259 but combined previous rating with the arthritis but if i look up the old code it deals with removal of semilunar cartilage but i thought that the arthritis should be under its own rating.

Second question when you are diagnosed with Arthritis in two or more major joints as diagnosed with X-Ray evidence that the rating would be 20% i was awarded SC for arthritis in both knees and both ankles so i am wondering if this is correct and if so is the 20% for each joint or do they rate them all at a single 20% my right knee was given 10 for arthritis and the ankle was combined together with chronic tearof the talofibular and calconofibular ligaments and DJD and achilles tendonitis and given a 10%.

question 3 is with the Diabetes they still say denied but give me a list of evidence that if i can show was taken before i left service or with in one year that would prove it started while on active duty and at the end of the statement it says the claim for SC is reopened does that mean they are giving me the benefit of the dobt to find the info and send in to get it granted instead of saying the info i sent in to try to get the claim reopened was not new or material evidence

Thanks all for your help My VSO Hasn't answered my Emails so im just trying get all this clear inmy head as to what i need to send in a appeal on thanks again all

[john999]

When in doubt send in your NOD. You have plenty of time to gather more evidence but if you NOD date passes you are pretty much screwed. I spent 7 years finding that out recently. I have 90% also and my ratings look sort of like yours. I need another 50% to get 100% scheduler. That may happen one day but I have TDIU for 12 years anyway. I got a 0% rating bumped up to 60% which gave me "S" by just appealing the bad decision.

[id_firefighter30]

I am planning on sending in a NOD im just trying to make sure what i am thinking is correct with the 2 new SC conditions i am rated approximately at 93% but paid at 90% im just wondering if the VA realized that and is trying to get me to take what they gave me with the arthritis even though the info they provided in the decision letter states if i had x-ray evidence that it was two or more major joints it would be 20% well i do all four lower joints x-ray and MRI evidence thanks again for your help i appreciate it

[stillhere]

Can you or do you work? why hasn't the va given you iu?

Stillhere

[id_firefighter30]

I have never applied been to stubborn and tried to work as long as i could was trying to get to 100% scheduler but i finally broke down and filled for IU with my VSO this am i have been out of work since dec and have applied for ssdi so we will see what happens