Need advise on preparing a new claim for Compensation

[Sharm]

Hello everyone, looking for advice on preparing a new claim for Compensation. My claim was filed as part of the VA's Quick Start initiative (Ramstein AB) on 6 November 2009 with disabilities shown to be in incurred in service 1 January2010. At the time of my evaluation, I put in for connection for lumbago (claimed as lower back injury and lumbar tendonitis: DENIED ) as I had previous had a few issues with my back during my 24 years + service as a Postal Working in the USAF. I had no idea, or even thought about arthritis. Now I have found out that I have moderate right (with complex labrum tear) and severe left degenerative changes of the bilateral hips evidenced by bony proliferative changes and subchondral sclerosis. Right lateral, femoral head neck junction subcortical cyst, 8mm in size. Right lesser trochanter fragmentation/bony exostosis suggesting enthesopatic changes. IMPRESSION: Advance degenerative changes, left greater than right, bilateral hip. 

As I later found out, lowing back pain is sometime not from the back at all but from the pelvic.

Now I am being schedule for total hip replacement (L) and (R) side.  Any ideal on the best way to make a new claim for this, should I wait till after the THR or start the process now?  

Any advise and or experience on a similar situation would be most appreacheiate. 

 

 

[semperfam]

I am not a hip replacement patient (yet), but something I was surprised to find out when I just had double knee replacements. According to my VSO:

You want them service connected, even at 0%.  Ideally, you are found to be SC prior to surgery.

If the joint is replaced, you should qualify for temp 100% rating on the joint for 13 months-the month of surgery, plus 12 more.  You send in your surgical report to VA as proof.  If not SC, then no temp 100% rating. For the knees (and I am thinking it similar for hips) after the 13 months, you are rated either 30% or 60% for post-joint replacement residuals.  Meaning, my SC knees will never be rated less than 30% each, plus the bilateral factor. 

I saw that the VA was trying to reduce the amount of months for temp total disability back in 2017 to 4 months, but it's generally accepted that the recovery time for a total joint replacement is one year, regardless of hospitalization. I am 3 weeks out from bilateral knee replacements, and it is not for the faint of heart.