Degenerative Arthritis
- Quasi-presumptive - If service-connected for degenerative arthritis, other joints CAN be connected without medical opinion
- Requirements - Other joint must not have suspected causes like age, injuries, or other conditions
- DDD excluded - Degenerative disc disease is NOT considered degenerative arthritis
- Rater override - Raters CAN override unfavorable examiner opinions if quasi-presumptive applies
By far the strangest quasi-presumptives.
If you are service-connected for Degenerative arthritis then ANY other joint diagnosed with degenerative CAN be service-connected WITHOUT a medical opinion! (V.iii.1.C.2.b.)
In order to qualify the other joint(s) MUST:
Not have other suspected causes.
Examples include: Advanced age, injuries to the joint, and having other diagnosed conditions involving the same joint.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Degenerative disc disease is NOT considered degenerative arthritis for VA purposes.
If an Examiner gives an unfavorable medical opinion and the claimed joint qualifies under this quasi-presumptive the rater CAN override the examiner!
MOST raters WILL mess this up and if you feel like this applies to you then you should cite the reference and file a HLR.