On May 25, I had my fourth knee surgery for my primary service connected disability. A few days after (May 31) when I got the copy of my operative notes, I filed a claim for temporary 100% for recovery time. I should be eligible for one month. (My other surgery that was exactly the same thing got a month, my other two got 3 months each) what was weird about this time is that after I filed a fully developed claim, I got a call to set up a P&T. I’ve never had to do a P&T for a temp claim for convalescence before. I always submit my op notes and my physical therapy rehab plan with the claim.

So, I went to the P&T exam. When I told the examiner I was only 3 weeks out from surgery and had not been released to go back to work yet (I’m an ER Nurse) she said she couldn’t even touch my knee to do an exam because I am still in post op recovery. So now both of us are confused as to why they sent me.

My claim has been sitting in step 3, Evidence gathering, review, and decision since June 10th. I called the VA to see if perhaps I did something wrong on the claim but the person I talked to was clueless. I explained five times that I had surgery on an EXISTING issue but it wasn’t getting through.

Anyone have any advice on how I can figure this out?. I was basically off work for 6 weeks and it would be nice to get paid.