Posted on Jul 15, 2020
Do any combat arms veterans have neck, back, or knee problems?
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As many of you know, many infantry and/or airborne veterans develop problems as they age such as arthritis in their neck, back, and knees that require special needs or surgery. Has anyone developed problems like those? Can those types of injuries be linked to military service?
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Disability
Military service
Medicine
Surgery
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Disability Military service Medicine Surgery
Posted >1 y ago
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The better question is: Do any combat arms veterans NOT have neck, back or knee problems.....
Hell, I've been ADA, MP and LG and I have neck, back and knee problems and a busted left shoulder to boot.
Hell, I've been ADA, MP and LG and I have neck, back and knee problems and a busted left shoulder to boot.
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SSG Paul Headlee
GySgt Tony Alley I should have learned to play the guitar; should have learned to play them drums...
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I don't think I know any combat gets without them. Especially GWOT vets. Wearing that heavy body armor for hours and days at a time takes a toll on your skeletal system
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SGT Robert Pryor
SGT (Join to see) - I didn't need no steenken body armor, flak vest or helmet. LOL Truth was we were not issued such things because we lived with, and fought along side, the locals -- and used the same accoutrements. On operations I probably carried 25 to 30 pounds of gear -- most of which was my weapons, ammo and a couple of smoke grenades. I wouldn't even carry one of those pesky M26 fragmentation grenades. How far can you throw one in a jungle before it hits a branch and bounces back at you? Had I been in the delta or coastal areas, I might have thought about carrying some M26s.
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SGT Robert Pryor
LTC (Join to see) - Fully loaded, back in the day, I probably weighed close to ten pounds less that you weighed dripping wet. I weighed 168, dipping wet, and somewhere in the mid 190s when I was dressed to kill -- except on those occasions when I would "overdress" -- just in case. But I hear you. I look at pictures from the GWOT and wonder if a young me could have handled it. The younger guys are some tough hombres and have my greatest respect and gratitude.
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SGT Eric Littlejohn
In my conflict, we didn't have the addition of body armor weight. Our armor was the buttons on the fatigue shirt. That being said, my ruck weighed just under 90#, mainly due to the amount of water (8 quarts) and ammo I carried. Sure, the body is paying for the beating it took, fast lining down with that much weight makes the landing impact really unpleasant. Still, would I do it again, in a New York minute!
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SGT (Join to see) this is an excellent question. As a former Disabled American Veterans Service Officer, I can say yes to your question. Resources for assistance to file a service connected claim for compensation include VA National Call Center [login to see] , your county Veterans Service Officer (county government can direct you to the office number), Veteran Service Organization Regional Offices (located in the Federal Courthouse Building), Regional VA Offices (located in the same Federal Courthouse Building), Veteran Service Officers in the VANedical Centers. Even if you are not yet service connected, you can receive treatment in the VA Health Care System. Best to you.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you, PO3 Phyllis Maynard. I will look into those. I am a member of DAV, so I will look into our VSO.
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