MSK SERVICE MECHANISM WORKSHEET — ACUTE / CUMULATIVE / BOTH

Use this for back, neck, shoulder, knee, hip, ankle, foot, wrist, hand, tendon, bursitis, strain, sprain, or repetitive-use claims.

Issue / body part:
Diagnosis if known:
Current symptoms:

Service mechanism:
- Acute one-time injury
- Cumulative overuse / repeated service stress
- Both
- Not sure yet

Acute event details if any:
Date or approximate period:
Location/unit/job:
What happened:
Immediate symptoms:
Treatment or self-treatment:
Witnesses:
Why no sick-call record, if applicable:

Cumulative service stressors that may apply:
- running / PT
- foot marching / ruck or load carriage
- lifting heavy equipment
- awkward lifting or twisting
- vehicle entry/exit
- falls / hard landings
- stairs / ladders
- kneeling / crawling
- body armor / gear weight
- deployment work
- repetitive tool or equipment use
- standing for long periods
- sports / unit PT incidents
- other:

When symptoms began:
How symptoms continued after service:
First post-service treatment:
Current treatment:
Imaging or objective findings:
Flare-ups:
Functional loss:
Work impact:
Daily-life impact:

Possible buddy/witness evidence:
Who saw it:
What they personally observed:
BuddySign needed? yes / no / not sure

Prompt to use:
I am developing a musculoskeletal VA claim for [body part/condition]. Interview me for both theories: a specific acute injury and cumulative overuse from military duties like running, marching with loads, lifting, equipment handling, falls, vehicles, stairs, kneeling, awkward movement, PT, or deployment work. Then tell me what evidence I already have, what gap remains, what buddy statement would help, what medical record entry I should try to get, and whether this claim is weak, fair, good, or strong right now. Do not invent facts.
