Unsure if this is right forum..after knee replacement and already 100% p&t

[Jims]

Just a quick question..i have been 100% p&t for 19 yrs this month. Am 63 ys old .  Finally had to break down and get knee replacements..just finished right..left in Dec.  My va hospital has me community cared out to civilan ortho surgeon.

Will they reevaluate me due to knee replacements automatically?  I am not going to submit a claim or say anything as am already 100 %.  Should i worry about getting a reeval paper in the future?

Are the  Va hospitals and VA raters sort of like 2 separate entities? Will hospital report replacements to va raters

 

Thanks a million

Jim

Edited November 18, 2023 by Jims

[Jims]

Thanks bronc....no the highest rating I have for 1 thing is my knee at 40...but the way va did their math..20 years ago was to take the highest and add half the next onw to rhat and half the next one, etc..if they had added eac h one in totality it added to over 200..but by their formula it came to 100...thank you

Edited November 18, 2023 by Jims

[namvet6567]

Is it possible for you to post your SC disabilties, w/the percentages and the starting dates they were awarded to?  It is possible that they should have awarded you an SMC-S award, as Bronco mentioned, back when they awarded the 100% rating.  Which could be an open claim or maybe a CUE.

 

[Jims]

Yes..dig those out..rhank you.  A DAV officer worked with me and finally got that 100 percent

Edited November 18, 2023 by Jims

[namvet6567]

You might be able to get HB temporarily, post surgery.  I believe they'll give it to you for 6 months, or more.  In the meantime, you should look at your 100% award letter and see if they mentioned a decision on HB.  That could be an open claim, still.

[Jims]

The letter i got in 2006 said it was backdated to 2004, yet in reading these from va website some say effective Dec 2005...so now unsure when the 20 year mark would be.  My right knee became worse than  left and it was 20 percent..so replacing it at least bumps it to 30 automatically.  I have lived on cortisone in hips and knees for 5 years.

 

Along with my post questions, which date should i go with for 20 yr protection?

And would it be best to wait till the 20 yr mark before doing the left which is 40%?  Cortisone does wonders.  But doc said the right knee was a mess and 10 yrs past due.  I can make it another yr or so on left if i need to.

No there was no mention of hb and no open cases.

I would assume that vso would not really know of surgery unless i submitted a claim?  Right?  Which i font intend to do.

I am already drawing 100 percent so dont need to file for any more, especially if it will awaken the sleeping giant.  Just wanna at least protect what i have now.  Thank you

 

Edited..got screenshots of original award letter minus ssn and personal info

.nov 15, 2004 is official date...what deleted here  were screenshots of va website that showed two effective 2005 and one disability effectivd 2002..makes no sense to me but letter says 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2023 by Jims
Less images

[namvet6567]

Your award 100% award letter should state that it was awarded as of whatever the date was.  It should go back to the date you filed the claim for 100%, not the date that the award letter was written.  If you filed on say the 18th of September and have an award date of 18 September, payment would begin as of October 1st but the actual money would not be paid until the 1st November.  (I hope I explained that correctly) It should also discuss whether they considered/decided on HB &/or A&A and denied it.  Usually, their failure to do that should mean that that remains an open claim.  If that is the case and you pursue that and win, it could possibly mean 19 yrs retro.  Just saying!  What you do is your decision.  I also know that the VA uses that "sleeping dogs lie" thing so that vets are scared to apply for of what they earned/deserve.