This shit is so frustrating man. It’s now been over a year of fighting for my service connected disabilities and I’m no further than where I started. There’s quite a few things that I need to appeal for, but specifically, my knee that I hurt on a run. Patellar Tendonitis is the diagnoses. Doesn’t seem like a huge deal but standing/walking sucks, and squatting is hell. Don’t get me started on stairs..

Anywho, the initial claim was denied, despite over half of my medical records being appointments for the knee (which was never fixed). I had no clue what to do, and hired one of those companies that assists with appeals. The company sucked and I ultimately fired them, but not before the appeal was denied again. Did some research on here and got a VSO, and he was astonished that there was no rating for my knee despite all the documentation. He assured me that an HLR was the best route and alluded to there being no way they’d miss on the knee again since it’s all right there in black and white. But nope. No call for follow ups, no exams, nothing, just a third denial. I REALLY don’t wanna be that guy but it’s such horseshit that I literally gave my all to Uncle Sam, and can’t even walk normally at 24 years old. But thank god I get $300 a month for tinnitus and plantar fasciitis.

EDIT: What makes this so crazy is that the knee has been deemed as “not service connected” 3 different times. Absolute insanity.