Millions of veterans suffer from chronic pain and don’t know where to turn for help.
You’re not alone. Many veterans live with hip pain secondary to knee pain and don’t know how to get the help they need.
We wrote this guide to help you understand your VA disability, hip pain secondary to knee benefits, and how to get the care you deserve.
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Can Knee Pain Cause Hip Pain?
Knee pain is a common problem, particularly among veterans. However, many people don’t realize that knee pain can cause hip pain.
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint that allows the leg to move in a wide range of directions. The hip joint is stabilized by several muscles, tendons, and ligaments, which can adversely affect knee problems.
For example, patellar tendonitis, which causes inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone, can cause hip pain. It is because the patellar tendon attaches to the hip and the knee, and when it is inflamed, it can pull on the hip joint and cause pain.
Similarly, iliotibial band syndrome, which causes inflammation of the ligament that runs outside the thigh, can also lead to hip pain. It is because the iliotibial band attaches to the hip at a point known as the greater trochanter, and when it becomes inflamed, it can cause pain in this area.
Thus, knee problems are often thought of as isolated issues, but they can lead to pain in other body parts, such as knee and hip pain.
VA Disability Hip Pain Secondary to Knee Pain
Military service can be tough on the body. Many veterans suffer from injuries incurred during an in-service event while serving their country. One of the most common injuries is knee pain. It can be caused by various factors, including marching for long distances or exposure to harsh conditions.
In some cases, the knee pain can be so severe that it leads to hip pain. It is known as secondary hip pain. Veterans who suffer from this condition may be eligible for VA disability benefits. To receive these benefits, the veteran must have a secondary hip pain medical diagnosis and prove that their military service contributed to their condition.
Creating Service Connection for Knee Pain
Knee pain is a particularly common problem among veterans.
The good news is that there are several benefits available to veterans who can prove that their knee pain is related to their military service. These benefits can include monthly disability payments, free medical care, and access to specialized treatment programs.
To create a service connection for knee pain, veterans must have the 3 essential elements for service connection: (1) A medical diagnosis of a disability condition, (2) evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation, AND (3) a “nexus” (or link) between #1 and #2 via competent medical evidence.
Veterans should keep copies of their medical records to help establish a service connection. By taking these steps, veterans can have a high chance of winning their claim so they receive the benefits and care they need to manage their knee pain.
VA Secondary Conditions to Knee Pain
When dealing with knee pain, it’s important to be aware of secondary conditions that can develop.
One such condition is hip pain. Imbalances often cause hip pain in the muscles and joints. As a result, treating hip pain is essential for managing knee pain.
Stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as icing and anti-inflammatory medication, can help to relieve hip pain and prevent it from exacerbating knee pain.
How Much VA Disability Benefits Can You Get for Hips?
If you are a veteran with a hip condition, you may be entitled to disability compensation from the VA. The compensation and benefits you can receive will depend on the severity of your condition.
With musculoskeletal conditions, the VA rates conditions based on pain, limited motion or too much motion, damage to the bones, diseases like arthritis, etc..
The ratings for Hip and Thigh conditions varies from 10-90% (which depends on the factors listed above).
In addition, increased benefits may be available for hip pain caused by hip replacements and those who experience markedly severe residual weakness.
What is the VA Disability Rating for Hip Pain
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a disability rating system to evaluate the severity of a veteran’s service-connected disabilities and assign a corresponding benefit amount.
The VA recognizes that hip pain can be debilitating and can assign a disability rating for this condition, which means that veterans are then eligible for monthly compensation, disability benefits, and access to health care and other services through the VA.
What is the Highest Hip Pain VA rating?
Hip pain is a common condition that can cause significant discomfort and impair a person’s quality of life. VA disability for hip pain is on a scale of 0 to 90. The ratings for Hip and Thigh conditions varies from 10% to 90% (with 90% being the most severe). 100% could be warranted if there’s a hip replacement or amputation.
To receive the highest VA hip rating, veterans must provide medical evidence that can be used to support a VA disability claim such as diagnosis, treatment records, X-rays, MRI scans, in-service documentation (for direct service-connection) and a medical nexus letter.
Submitting VA Claim Hip Secondary to Knee
When you have a service-connected disability, the VA is responsible for providing you with necessary medical care and benefits. In some cases, however, a secondary condition may develop due to your primary disability.
For example, if you have a service-connected knee injury, you may develop hip pain. You must file a claim with the VA to receive compensation for this secondary condition.
To be able to file for hip secondary to your knee, you will need a diagnosis for your hip, your knee condition must be currently service-connected and a nexus letter linking your hip diagnosis to your service-connected knee condition.
The claims process can be complex, but working with an experienced Veteran Coach at VA Claims Insider can help to ensure that your claim is properly submitted and that you receive the benefits you deserve.
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Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and therefore not getting the compensation they’re due. At VA Claims Insider, we help you understand and take control of the claims process, so you can get the rating and compensation you’re owed by law.
Our process takes the guesswork out of filing a VA disability claim and supports you every step of the way in building a fully-developed claim (FDC)—so you can increase your rating fast!
If you’ve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low rating—or you’re unsure how to get started—reach out to us! Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call. Learn what you’ve been missing—so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation you deserve!
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About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is one of the top VA disability benefits experts in the world and bestselling author of You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You’ve Earned (Second Edition).
Brian’s frustration with the VA claim process led him to create VA Claims Insider, which provides disabled veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned to win their VA disability compensation claim, faster, even if they’ve already filed, been denied, gave up, or don’t know where to start.
As the founder of VA Claims Insider and CEO of Military Disability Made Easy, he has helped serve more than 10 million military members and veterans since 2013 through free online educational resources.
He is a former active duty Air Force officer with extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class).
