Upcoming Surgery

[Forest Gump]

I am scheduled for a total knee replacement in the middle of the week. This will be done at the West Haven VA hospital. This is for a service connected condition. Who notifies the regional office of the surgery for the 100 percent temporary convalescent rate? Do I send in discharge papers from the hospital, or does the hospital notify the regional office of the surgery? Also, can anyone give me any insight as to what I may expect as far as recovery, things to watch out for, or things to do? Thanks. Mark

[Objee]

I am scheduled for a total knee replacement in the middle of the week. This will be done at the West Haven VA hospital. This is for a service connected condition. Who notifies the regional office of the surgery for the 100 percent temporary convalescent rate? Do I send in discharge papers from the hospital, or does the hospital notify the regional office of the surgery? Also, can anyone give me any insight as to what I may expect as far as recovery, things to watch out for, or things to do? Thanks. Mark

DOn't know about the knee but my brother had his hips done at Rocky Hill. A lot of PT afterwards but he's in fine shape now.

If you want to be sure, send a letter to the RO a day or two before with your CSS# and tell them you are applying for the 100% recovery rating. Otherwise, you can wait until it's over. $$$$ are the same but sooner with early notice.

Ralph

[Forest Gump]

Thanks for your input.I am scared to trust the va.The northampton mass va gave me a shot for painfull joints and it put me into a siziure.After haveing heart problems agin years later I find my records from the va urgent care intake were alterd -deleated.This is also the va that a nurse killed 5 or 6 vets at while I was there.By the way that nurse last name was gilbert-the same last name as my docter there at that time.thanks all,

[Guest rickb54]

Thanks for your input.I am scared to trust the va.The northampton mass va gave me a shot for painfull joints and it put me into a siziure.After haveing heart problems agin years later I find my records from the va urgent care intake were alterd -deleated.This is also the va that a nurse killed 5 or 6 vets at while I was there.By the way that nurse last name was gilbert-the same last name as my docter there at that time.thanks all,

Not to scare you.. My father died in the North Hampton Massachusetts, VA. They removed his breathing tube and he could not breath and they could not get it back in.... They told us this is a common problem when a person has been on a breathing tube for a long time...

I wish you the best in your surgery and I will say a special prayer... I am sure that you will come out of it allright.

[Vike17]

Forest Gump,

Sometimes the VAMC will notify he regional office if a veteran is hospitalized due to a servic-connected disability. However, your best bet it to make sure they (the RO) knows. The only thingyou need to do is write a short letter to the RO requesting a temporay 100% under §4.30, otherwise, know as a paragraph 30 claim. Along with the short letter, you should attach the Hospital admission sheet, any bedside notes, surgery report, Hospiatl dischrge sheet, and a statement from your doctor as to how long the recovery period is estimated to take. These ratings generally go pretty quick compared to a regular disability claim.

§4.30 Convalescent ratings.

A total disability rating (100 percent) will be assigned without regard to other provisions of the rating schedule when it is established by report at hospital discharge (regular discharge or release to non-bed care) or outpatient release that entitlement is warranted under paragraph (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this section effective the date of hospital admission or outpatient treatment and continuing for a period of 1, 2, or 3 months from the first day of the month following such hospital discharge or outpatient release. The termination of these total ratings will not be subject to §3.105(e) of this chapter. Such total rating will be followed by appropriate schedular evaluations. When the evidence is inadequate to assign a schedular evaluation, a physical examination will be scheduled and considered prior to the termination of a total rating under this section.

(a) Total ratings will be assigned under this section if treatment of a service-connected disability resulted in:

(1) Surgery necessitating at least one month of convalescence (Effective as to outpatient surgery March 1, 1989.)

(2) Surgery with severe postoperative residuals such as incompletely healed surgical wounds, stumps of recent amputations, therapeutic immobilization of one major joint or more, application of a body cast, or the necessity for house confinement, or the necessity for continued use of a wheelchair or crutches (regular weight-bearing prohibited). (Effective as to outpatient surgery March 1, 1989.)

(3) Immobilization by cast, without surgery, of one major joint or more. (Effective as to outpatient treatment March 10, 1976.)

A reduction in the total rating will not be subject to §3.105(e) of this chapter. The total rating will be followed by an open rating reflecting the appropriate schedular evaluation; where the evidence is inadequate to assign the schedular evaluation, a physical examination will be scheduled prior to the end of the total rating period.

(:o A total rating under this section will require full justification on the rating sheet and may be extended as follows:

(1) Extensions of 1, 2, or 3 months beyond the initial 3 months may be made under paragraph (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this section.

(2) Extensions of 1 or more months up to 6 months beyond the initial 6 months period may be made under paragraph (a)(2) or (3) of this section upon approval of the Veterans Service Center Manager.

[41 FR 34256, Aug. 13, 1976, as amended at 54 FR 4281, Jan. 30, 1989; 71 FR 28586, May 17, 2006]

I hope this helps!

Vike 17

[Berta]

Mark- it would be great if someone at the VA- one of their inhouse reps or the Patient Advocate could file for the temp hospitalization for you right after the surgery-

Assuming this doesn't happen- just send the VARO a letter requesting this yourself-

Temporary Convalescence- 38 CFR 4.30 (2006) TDCC

1. for surgery requiring at least one month of convalescence or

2. for severe post operative residuals from surgery or

3. a major joint is immobolized by a cast.

These ratings are in effect from first day of month hosp to discharge to continue for 3 months in some cases and can be extended (by adjudication officer with request and medical evidence) up to one year.

Any vet like Mark with a service connected condition-who is hospitalized for treatment of that SC condition for 21 days or more- can also be given a TDIU rate for one month.

38 CFR 4.29 (:o

If this is a vet in the PTSD program for 21 days- usually the MSW or a rep will make sure their claim for this is filed when they leave the hosp.

[Nathan104]

You will need to have your surgeon write note stating the surgery you had performed and the length of your convalesence period. That is th only thing that needs to be sent in with a note requesting the temporary 100% rating during this time. I just did it after my back surgery.

As for your knee surgery, I can tell you a few things I experienced after my knee surgery. It was painful and stiff. Dont take off the panyhose type stockings they have on you as they are to prevent blood clots and can save your life(they didnt tell me this and I took them off the first night as they itched). Getting around sucks a lot. On your ride home, its best to sit in the back seat with your operated leg up in the seat with you sitting sideways. The lack of mobility starts to get very annoying and upseting. And, do not try and do to much too soon. If its feeling good, DONT try and do more than you are supposed to do just because you can. It can cause a setback in your PT.

Good luck on your surgery.

P.S. Also, if you will be around young family members after coming home from surgery, be sure to explain to them beforehand what is going on and how they cant run and jump on you or slam into you for a big hug. Believe me, it hurts.