Knee Replacement in VA Policies and Procedures Forum

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Knee Replacement

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joemack	Knee Replacement		Lead	[-]
Posts: 596 Oct 29 08 11:11 AM	T,o anyone out there who can advise me,I need to have my right knee replaced. I have a 10% service connection for it now.First off does anyone have an opinion if I should let the VA do the cutting and replacement since I have the connection, or go private. And secondly will having my knee replaced affect my current rating either lower or higher? A big THANKS to anyone who can help.
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WhoopAssSmitty		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2836 Nov 4 08 4:35 PM	joemack wrote: T,o anyone out there who can advise me,I need to have my right knee replaced. I have a 10% service connection for it now.First off does anyone have an opinion if I should let the VA do the cutting and replacement since I have the connection, or go private. And secondly will having my knee replaced affect my current rating either lower or higher? A big THANKS to anyone who can help. Joe, I'd say use the VA and allow them to do the replacement. It's your right and option, why not use it? As to affecting your rating, if you've only got 10% for it, don't really see that happening. How long have you held the 10% for your knee? Next issue is, if I could get an OP and be fixed, I'd not worry about losing the money, I'd be more interested in getting well. Since 10% is less than $200 a month, I wouldn't even thing twice about it. Know what I mean? Go get yourself worked on, chances are, your rating wont even be bothered or looked at. Don't forget, if your in the hospital and or recovering for over 21days, you qualify for the temp 100%. Get your doctor to give you a note saying how long you'll be out of commission and how long you'll be, before you are considered as fit to return to work. The VA will probably pay you for your 100% then. Check with your VSO, he can help you with this bit of paperwork. Hope this helps, Whoop
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afradarguy		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 213 Nov 4 08 5:46 PM	I could be wrong, but I thought I read on a thread that after a knee replacement you would receive a 30% rating...I could be wrong. If anyone knows for sure could you chime in on this? http://vets.yuku.com/topic/22232 Here is the link to the other topic on post total knee replacement ratings. Either way I agree with Smitty, get it done, let the VA take care of it. Edited 1 time by afradarguy Nov 4 08 5:52 PM.
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ong rau	knee	#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 893 Nov 4 08 7:08 PM	My neighbor had his knee replaced twice. It was done by the VA. To the best of my memory he received 12 or 13 months of 100% following the surgery. He was rated at 30% after the first and went to 60% after the second. The doctor who did the surgery the first time did not properly do the surgery and it had to be repeated. I don't think the VA or private thing is important. Whomever does it should be vetted by you and their reputation verified as much as possible before. OR
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USNDW		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4378 Nov 5 08 1:03 PM	100% 12 MONTHS FOLLOWING, 60% with chronic residuals of pain or weakness, or limited range of motion. 30% minmum rating. I would recommend whoever does it, ask for their background, how many they have done, which implant they are going to use, and who will actually be doing the surgery. Sometimes they have surgical training going on and they might let some rookie cut on your knee. Would not recommend a partial if they offer that. If it fails you will have life long problems.
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sfsd104		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 742 Nov 15 08 10:41 AM	The VAMC is an outstanding medical institution. If your knee needs to be replaced then why go any place else? . . . hear, see, speak . . . Respond!
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hurryandwait	Total Knee Replacement	#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1 Dec 10 08 6:03 PM	I had 10% awarded for a knee injury and as it got worse, it was increased up to 20% but it took some time. As I got older the knee of course got worse and I had no choice but to have it replaced. Total. I was awarded 30% after the surgery and I had the work done by a civilian doctor in Biloxi, MS where I lived at the time. The guy is great. The 30%award is permanent and can only go higher but never down. Matter-a-fact, I'm trying now to have to have it (%) increased because all my weight is favored on the same leg and because it is an inch shorter than the right leg it is causing some back problems because it throws my body out of whack. Go for it, if I had it to do over again I would in a heart beat. Anyway, when the pain get to the point you can't stand it, you'll know its time. I've been there. The 100 percent for 12-months wasn't bad at all.
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argusangel		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 44 Dec 17 08 10:19 AM	Are you saying that any vet having a total joint replacement qualifies for 1 year at 100% I was in France in the USAF in the early 60's I served two years then reserve for 4 more years. Would I qualify?? Thanks
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cng1		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 730 Dec 17 08 4:50 PM	argusangel, Is your joint service connected?
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WhoopAssSmitty		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2836 Dec 20 08 5:04 PM	argusangel wrote: Are you saying that any vet having a total joint replacement qualifies for 1 year at 100% I was in France in the USAF in the early 60's I served two years then reserve for 4 more years. Would I qualify?? Thanks No you wouldn't have qualified for the 100%, because you were property of the military. Since you were in the AF and the reserves at the time. If you'd been discharged and either working or unemployed or whatever, you would have qualified for that 100% for the 12months. Hope this helps. Whoop
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Aim4fun	Knee replacement	#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1178 Dec 23 08 2:28 PM	arquasangel If you have your knee replaced now, and it is service connected, you would receive 100% for 1 year and your rating would be at least 30%. It doesn't matter how long you were in the service as long as your knee is service connected you get the money. 11B Bco. 1/502 101st PTSD 100% P&T Phu Bai 12/69 to 03/71 IHD 100% SSDI SMC S SMC K
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usmarine	Knee replaced	#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 100 Jan 25 09 5:18 PM	Hi Again Joe, Yes you will be increased but you need to apply for the increase and I would also start adding a request for a secondary condition to the other knee it is a well known fact that if you have a bad knee, that eventually due to the way we overcompensate that your other knee will also require some need. Mine started with my R knee and today both my ankles and my knee are connected due to secondary condition to the service connected knee. I am just recently since I have been dealing with this for 28 years since my discharge my lower back and hip starts feeling ppain on some days, depending on my previous days work. And yes minimum is 30% for knee replacement and witha total disability rating of 100 % upto 13 months but your doctor will have to sign off on time for recovery God Bless
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usmarine		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 100 Jan 25 09 5:20 PM	In addition when you connect both legs together as service connected you reap the reward of bilateral condition where if one leg is 30 and the other is 30 the VA adds them together and add 10% of one which is 3% before figuring your combined rating for multiple ratings.
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polo12345		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4 Feb 1 09 5:06 PM	Dont forget to get your 10% for scars
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Ilyanir	Knee Replacement	#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2033 Feb 1 09 10:45 PM	I'm not sure what part of the country you guys live in but if you live close to or you can get to Alabama I would definitely let the VA do the surgery especially at the VAMC in Birmingham, AL. The reason for this is that the VA Hospital in Birmingham, AL has an agreement with the UAB Healthcare Center / Hospital in which their surgical residents do the consult and surgery. The benefit of this is that you get a VERY higly skilled and trained surgeon doing the surgery that is being scrutinized by his superior, i.e. surgeon that he's undergoing the training under. I won't let the VA cut on me at all unless I am referred to the VAMC in Birmingham, AL. I've had three different surgeries there and have had positive results every time. UAB hospital is considered one of the best hospitals in the United States. "The Rough Rider"... "Far Better It Is To Dare Mighty Things..... Than To Take Rank With Those Poor Timid Spirits Who Know Neither Victory Or Defeat." Theodore Roosevelt 1899
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stanleyd	new knee questions	#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2 Feb 9 09 9:33 AM	I had my left knee replaced at the Buffalo NY VAMC-- 20 October 2008--my VA Rep was supposed to put me in for a temporary 100% rating, I found out in December that he somehow didn't do it or otherwise made a mistake--I called the VA 800# to inquire about the status and they had no record of the claim--I then resubmitted the claim myself--so far I have not received anything except a letter saying that they are working on it--I may have a complication as I was only rated at 10% in 2007 on my left knee as secondary to my SC right knee which was rated at 20% since my initial knee operation in 1978...This operation was also done at the Buffalo VAMC--I put in a claim for increase in 2006 and had my right knee upped to 30% because of the arthritis and pain-- I disagreed with the 10% secondary rating on my left knee and it is under review--obviously if I had to have it replaced it was in pretty bad shape and should probably been rated higher--my questions are-- Isn't the temporary 100% an automatic deal? in other words should there be any problem for me? and ... by the way... I still can't bend my new knee fully and I have pain most of the time especially at night...however its better than before at least I can walk and don't fall down--I've had three previous operations on this knee for torn cartiledge, loose bodies etc...my woman thinks thats why the new knee isn't functioning as good as I'd hoped...anybody got anything to say about any of this? thanks in advance...
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exjarhead		#16	[url]	[-]
Posts: 947 Feb 9 09 9:37 PM	Ilyanir wrote: I'm not sure what part of the country you guys live in but if you live close to or you can get to Alabama I would definitely let the VA do the surgery especially at the VAMC in Birmingham, AL. The reason for this is that the VA Hospital in Birmingham, AL has an agreement with the UAB Healthcare Center / Hospital in which their surgical residents do the consult and surgery. The benefit of this is that you get a VERY higly skilled and trained surgeon doing the surgery that is being scrutinized by his superior, i.e. surgeon that he's undergoing the training under. I won't let the VA cut on me at all unless I am referred to the VAMC in Birmingham, AL. I've had three different surgeries there and have had positive results every time. UAB hospital is considered one of the best hospitals in the United States. Can you do that if you live in another state?
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usmarine		#17	[url]	[-]
Posts: 100 Feb 9 09 10:21 PM	Hi Stan, First of all, have a question you should check on. You say you VA rep was supposed to but didn't submit paperwork. Is that according to the VA? and if it is then I would check with the rep as the VA is notorious for losing paperwork. The Veterans Service Officer you may have used usually keep time/date stamped copies of submittals. So check with them next. As far as the 100% temp, its not automatic in the sense that you must submit the paperwork requesting it. The rest is just a waiting game. And the 13 mos is not automatic either they will base your 100% temp based on what your surgeon indicates your recovery time is. So make sure he understands if you can not return to work or are limited in duties and submit for an extension if necessary. It also makes no diff what your rating was prior to surgery, as long as SC they will pay the temp 100%. You also should submit through a Veterans Service Organization a request for reevaluation based on your surgery. Minimum rating for a successful TKR is 30% and if complications can go higher. So get your paperwork submitted for that also and in addition any other SC or secondary conditions you now may have or have been aggravated. Good luck and God Bless
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RWSVol		#18	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3584 Feb 11 09 7:23 AM	Moved to proper forum. VOL "You do not greet Death. You punch him in the throat repeatedly as he drags you away."
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stanleyd	thanks USMarine	#19	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2 Feb 13 09 7:52 AM	Hey thanks for answering--I think I got all the paperwork in for now--You may be right about the VA misplacing the original submission--I have talked to them since and they said everything is in order and there should be something coming down soon...Apparently I submitted my first post in the wrong place but it was my first and I didn't know any better--Thanks again Marine--seems like u r always watching out for us...
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daf62757	Knee Replacement	#20	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1 Jan 30 10 11:39 AM	I am sure everyone has their own opinions of VA medical treatment, but personally, I wouldn't let me dog go there for treatment. I am scheduled to go in for total right knee replacement in May 2010. I could use the VA, it would be free, but I prefer to pay the money out of my own pocket (plus my private insurance) to get it down by some kid who was top of his class vs some guy who had to go to the VA for work. How many times have you ever been to the VA and they use some generic treatment or medication because it is cheaper? I have and it happens each and every time. I want my doctor to have the freedom to use the most modern treatment, materials, or medications that are state of the art, not generic because some GS-7 in n purchasing bought these for all the VA centers and it was cheaper. I appreciate the knowledge that you can get 100% disability while getting the operation and the recovery. It will help pay for what my insurance doesn't. God Bless us old veterans! We have paid in pain and blood for the ignorance and vanity of stupid politicians! One additional thought. There is a new procedure for knee replacement. Its called minimally invasive joint replacement. They make a shorter incision and don't cut through muscle. The surgeons use computers to assist in the proper alignment of the new prosthesis to make the knee replacement last longer. Hope you ask your doctors about this. It is supposed to reduce recovery time and minimize post operative pain. Once I have mine, I can report first hand on it. Edited 1 time by daf62757 Jan 30 10 6:16 PM.
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