Degenerative joint disease and diagnostic codes for rating

Question:

Jim, i was reading one of your replys to someone else about ddd and djd in back that was diagnosed in service. In your reply you stated “Systemic DJD occurs when the Veteran gets a diagnosis of DJD in service (or within one year after release from active duty) when there is no record or evidence of trauma to the joint. In this case, if the Veteran develops DJD in any other joint in the future, that joint is automatically subject to service connection. The diagnostic code for traumatic DJD is 5010 and the diagnostic code for systemic DJD is 5003.” My question is where does this come from? Is there something i need to send with my claim when claiming degenerative joint disease? I was service connected for ddd in back and now have degenerative arthritis in other locations. Does the rater automatically rate those as service connected since Ii had ddd diagnosed in service and rated as soon as I got out? Thank you for what you do in the veteran community.

Jim's Reply:

While I see the  2013 letter you reference, I can't find the quote you attribute to me? I see a similar statement from a rater? In any case, nothing much is "automatic" but the rater explains how this works.