anyone get medically retired for their knees?

M

millsjr9566

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
I hope this is the correct forum. Has anyone been found unfit due to their knee complications? Just wondering what my personal case holds against those who were/were not found unfit for duty and was able to be medically retired in the end.
I had my case presented today at the AMRO. My PCM believes I will drive a MEB. My very abbreviated timeline of care is as follows:

2012 - Tendonitis patellar (jumper knee, swelling, pain, stiffness)

2013 – bilateral knee pain

2013 – began PT for tendonitis patellar

2013 – MRI showing patellar chondromalacia (affliction of cartilage) and tear of ACL anterior right knee/patellofemoral syndrome (runners knee, pain)

2013 – PT recommended braces for knees – tried without relief

2018 – sprained left ankle/stress fx/fx 5th metatarsal while working out because I tripped running

2018 – seen again for bilateral knee pain due to being DNIF – chondromalacia still present

2020 – pain in knees continued > PT initiated again, PRP (platelet rich plasma), injections, topical agents, no relief

2021 – chondromalacia in L/R knee, patellar tendinitis in L/R knee

2021 – R Scope and MACI biopsy – chondral 4 defect

2021 – L scope – chondral 2/3 defects

Multitude of knee appts/PT between scopes and surgery

2022 – discussed direction forward. MACI/TTO

2022 – MACI/TTO surgery on R knee leading to 9-12 months rehab/recovery, PT2x week 6 months

Developed inability to kneel down on right knee, buckling continued, pain increased, atrophy

Xrays/MRIs showed internal improvement but couldn’t see full pic without scoping again.

2023 - Refer to off base specialist orthopedics

2023 – right knee scope, removal of screws, excision of prepatellar bursa (irritated inflammation of patella). nerve damage suspected.

2024 – f/u showed the 50% success didn’t work. Surgical interventions on pause (OCA/total knee).

Feb 2024 – referral to a Pain management specialist to burn nerves (coolief/ablation) repeated every 6 months. Wont fix buckling, may mask but not hide pain now starting AMRO.
 
millsjr9566 said:
I hope this is the correct forum. Has anyone been found unfit due to their knee complications? Just wondering what my personal case holds against those who were/were not found unfit for duty and was able to be medically retired in the end.
I had my case presented today at the AMRO. My PCM believes I will drive a MEB. My very abbreviated timeline of care is as follows:

2012 - Tendonitis patellar (jumper knee, swelling, pain, stiffness)

2013 – bilateral knee pain

2013 – began PT for tendonitis patellar

2013 – MRI showing patellar chondromalacia (affliction of cartilage) and tear of ACL anterior right knee/patellofemoral syndrome (runners knee, pain)

2013 – PT recommended braces for knees – tried without relief

2018 – sprained left ankle/stress fx/fx 5th metatarsal while working out because I tripped running

2018 – seen again for bilateral knee pain due to being DNIF – chondromalacia still present

2020 – pain in knees continued > PT initiated again, PRP (platelet rich plasma), injections, topical agents, no relief

2021 – chondromalacia in L/R knee, patellar tendinitis in L/R knee

2021 – R Scope and MACI biopsy – chondral 4 defect

2021 – L scope – chondral 2/3 defects

Multitude of knee appts/PT between scopes and surgery

2022 – discussed direction forward. MACI/TTO

2022 – MACI/TTO surgery on R knee leading to 9-12 months rehab/recovery, PT2x week 6 months

Developed inability to kneel down on right knee, buckling continued, pain increased, atrophy

Xrays/MRIs showed internal improvement but couldn’t see full pic without scoping again.

2023 - Refer to off base specialist orthopedics

2023 – right knee scope, removal of screws, excision of prepatellar bursa (irritated inflammation of patella). nerve damage suspected.

2024 – f/u showed the 50% success didn’t work. Surgical interventions on pause (OCA/total knee).

Feb 2024 – referral to a Pain management specialist to burn nerves (coolief/ablation) repeated every 6 months. Wont fix buckling, may mask but not hide pain now starting AMRO.
Click to expand...
Super difficult to be retired due to knee issues. The main reason for that is VA disability % is very low for joints. So a lot of Soldiers get kicked out with a one time severance check which really is just a loan because once you get VA disability the knee compensation will be withheld until all of the severance check is paid back. No tricare etc.

How long have you been in? What branch? Any other medical conditions that you might be able to argue is unfitting too? Also, consider interviewing private IDES attorneys to hire so that you have dedicated representation and can have someone working on your case even while there is nothing happening.
 
Last edited:
Provis said:
Super difficult to be retired due to knee issues. The main reason for that is VA disability % is very low for joints. So a lot of Soldiers get kicked out with a one time severance check which really is just a loan because once you get VA disability the knew compensation will be withheld until all of the severance check is paid back. No tricare etc.

How long have you been in? What branch? Any other medical conditions that you might be able to argue is unfitting too? Also, consider interviewing private IDES attorneys to hire so that you have dedicated representation and can have someone working on your case even while there is nothing happening.
Click to expand...
11.5 years in the Air Force. I have depression, anxiety, PTSD, Tinnitus, Exposure to Burn pit, ulcers from pain medicine, and a few other instances tied into my medical record that I’m sure are claimable.
 
millsjr9566 said:
11.5 years in the Air Force. I have depression, anxiety, PTSD, Tinnitus, Exposure to Burn pit, ulcers from pain medicine, and a few other instances tied into my medical record that I’m sure are claimable.
Click to expand...
If knee is referred condition is there any others that you could argue cause you to be unfit such as mental health?
 
Provis said:
If knee is referred condition is there any others that you could argue cause you to be unfit such as mental health?
Click to expand...

That is possible. My knees are the driving force behind my AMRO.
It's my understanding that the AMRO decides my case goes forward to an MEB. If the MEB finds me unfit for service due to my knees. I would then go through IDES with the VA to determine all of my claims (not just knees) which I believe would be well enough to get me over the 30% margin necessary for medical retirement.

Am I reading into that process incorrectly?
 
millsjr9566 said:
That is possible. My knees are the driving force behind my AMRO.
It's my understanding that the AMRO decides my case goes forward to an MEB. If the MEB finds me unfit for service due to my knees. I would then go through IDES with the VA to determine all of my claims (not just knees) which I believe would be well enough to get me over the 30% margin necessary for medical retirement.

Am I reading into that process incorrectly?
Click to expand...
You are incorrect. Most times only the referred condition's rating will be found unfitting. So if knee was rated 10% then your DOD% would be 10% and your total VA ratings would be higher because of other conditions. If they refer you to full IDES I strongly recommend looking into hiring a dedicated private IDES attorney who can work with you to try to get you the best outcome. That may be increased ratings or fighting to have another condition added as unfitting.
 
I appreciate your feedback. If my DOD% is 10% as you mentioned, yet the VA finds me at say 50%, how would that not medically retire me?
I will begin looking at attorneys in preparation of a potential full IDES. I guess I'm not understanding how if I'm found unfit by the DOD, regardless of what % they assign me, if the VA found me above 30% - how is that not medical retirement regardless of what the DOD% is.
 
millsjr9566 said:
I appreciate your feedback. If my DOD% is 10% as you mentioned, yet the VA finds me at say 50%, how would that not medically retire me?
I will begin looking at attorneys in preparation of a potential full IDES. I guess I'm not understanding how if I'm found unfit by the DOD, regardless of what % they assign me, if the VA found me above 30% - how is that not medical retirement regardless of what the DOD% is.
Click to expand...
% is based on DOD%. The DOD % must be 30% or higher. DOD % lower than 30% will result in separation with one time severance payment and no insurance benefit.

The total VA% is how much VA compensation you are entitled to after being medically retired or separated. It has no bearing on if your medically retired or separated.
 
millsjr9566 said:
I appreciate your feedback. If my DOD% is 10% as you mentioned, yet the VA finds me at say 50%, how would that not medically retire me?
I will begin looking at attorneys in preparation of a potential full IDES. I guess I'm not understanding how if I'm found unfit by the DOD, regardless of what % they assign me, if the VA found me above 30% - how is that not medical retirement regardless of what the DOD% is.
Click to expand...
The reason the DOD% is lower than the VA% is because the DOD% is only for your unfitting conditions. The VA % is the total of all medical conditions. So if your knee was rated at 10% and unfitting then 10% is your DOD%. The VA rates all conditions but the DOD% is only applied to conditions found unfitting. So for example you will see on these message boards folks being kicked out with severance at 10% DOD and 100% VA. That means they VA compensation after they get out is 100% but since DOD is only 10% they are getting kicked out with severance and no tricare insurance.
 
I see now. I was under the impression the VA being 30% or higher would result in retirement regardless of what the DOD% was. I appreciate you clearing that up!
 
millsjr9566 said:
I see now. I was under the impression the VA being 30% or higher would result in retirement regardless of what the DOD% was. I appreciate you clearing that up!
Click to expand...
That's why i recommend hiring a private attorney early in the process. There are a lot of things that are subjective and so 2 people with similar health issues can exit with very different results. My wife's attorney appealed at every part. She was also directed to gather additional medical evidence. She was able to have conditions added, existing unfit condition increased and combat related designation added all through appeals and VARR's. There is no way she would have came out on the other side with as good of a result by being reactive and utilizing her assigned legal from the military.
 
I'm happy your wife was taken care of in the correct manner for the compensation she earned/deserved. Based off the stories I've read here and on other platforms I'll be hiring a private attorney to represent myself. thanks again for clearing up the DOD/VA - I had that completely wrong.
 
millsjr9566 said:
I'm happy your wife was taken care of in the correct manner for the compensation she earned/deserved. Based off the stories I've read here and on other platforms I'll be hiring a private attorney to represent myself. thanks again for clearing up the DOD/VA - I had that completely wrong.
Click to expand...
I will send you some good ones. Can't remember who I have sent stuff to anymore lol.
 
millsjr9566 said:
I hope this is the correct forum. Has anyone been found unfit due to their knee complications? Just wondering what my personal case holds against those who were/were not found unfit for duty and was able to be medically retired in the end.
I had my case presented today at the AMRO. My PCM believes I will drive a MEB. My very abbreviated timeline of care is as follows:

2012 - Tendonitis patellar (jumper knee, swelling, pain, stiffness)

2013 – bilateral knee pain

2013 – began PT for tendonitis patellar

2013 – MRI showing patellar chondromalacia (affliction of cartilage) and tear of ACL anterior right knee/patellofemoral syndrome (runners knee, pain)

2013 – PT recommended braces for knees – tried without relief

2018 – sprained left ankle/stress fx/fx 5th metatarsal while working out because I tripped running

2018 – seen again for bilateral knee pain due to being DNIF – chondromalacia still present

2020 – pain in knees continued > PT initiated again, PRP (platelet rich plasma), injections, topical agents, no relief

2021 – chondromalacia in L/R knee, patellar tendinitis in L/R knee

2021 – R Scope and MACI biopsy – chondral 4 defect

2021 – L scope – chondral 2/3 defects

Multitude of knee appts/PT between scopes and surgery

2022 – discussed direction forward. MACI/TTO

2022 – MACI/TTO surgery on R knee leading to 9-12 months rehab/recovery, PT2x week 6 months

Developed inability to kneel down on right knee, buckling continued, pain increased, atrophy

Xrays/MRIs showed internal improvement but couldn’t see full pic without scoping again.

2023 - Refer to off base specialist orthopedics

2023 – right knee scope, removal of screws, excision of prepatellar bursa (irritated inflammation of patella). nerve damage suspected.

2024 – f/u showed the 50% success didn’t work. Surgical interventions on pause (OCA/total knee).

Feb 2024 – referral to a Pain management specialist to burn nerves (coolief/ablation) repeated every 6 months. Wont fix buckling, may mask but not hide pain now starting AMRO.
Click to expand...
I went through an MEB after a knee injury that never recovered enough for duty. The problem was function. I could not run, could not pass PT, and stayed on profile for a long time. The board focused on whether I could meet the physical requirements of the job.

I had arthroscopic surgery with M. Tyrrell Burrus, and the recovery records showed limited improvement in range of motion and no real return to full activity. Those objective results went into my MEB file.

After multiple failed attempts to return to duty, I was found unfit for continued service. The decision was based on the measurable limitations in the medical records, not just what I reported feeling.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top