Shelly.

Hello, new here and not sure if I'm posting this in the correct forum... My husband (who gave me permission to post this) is currently rated at 20% for Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine. Since that initial rating several years ago his condition has gotten a lot worse and will be going in for an increase with additional diagnosed disabilities that have not yet been connected. I have a question though, due to his worsening condition (pretty bad drop foot in his right leg and drop foot in left leg) he has fallen several times even though he wears leg braces. Can his shoulder, knee and elbow conditions be linked as service connection because of them being injured from his falls if we cant link them to service? We do have several pictures of pretty severe brusing and scrapes / skin tears on his elbow, legs, and face from his falls. Below is information that we have gathered from a portion of his VA medical records. Current Rated Disabilities • Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine (20%) • Tinnitus (10%) • Scars (0%) • Impaired Hearing (0%) Non-Rated Diagnosis (noted in VA medical records) • Foot drop – left & right foot “due to acute disc condition” • Severe obstructive sleep apnea • Posterior horn medial meniscal tear, left knee • Medial epicondylitis, left elbow • Bone spurs, neck & heels • Plantar fasciitis • Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar • Ulnar neuropathy • Unspecified abnormalities of gait and mobility • Insomnia disorder • Depression • PTSD • Cervical radiculopathy • Multilevel disc herniations “likely causing some radicular symptoms” • Radiculopathy & thenar atrophy, left hand • Spinal stenosis / foraminal stenosis C4-C5 & C6-C7 • Atrophy of the 1st dorsal / palmar interossei and thumb adductor • Hiatal hernia • GERD • Rotator cuff tear / rupture • Prostate cancer • Erectile disfunction Surgeries • Three lower back surgeries • Two shoulder surgeries, left & right (complete rotator cuff tear or rupture of right shoulder, not specified as traumatic) “Progression of pain and chronicity of symptoms is consistent by his history with his injury in 1996” • Ulnar nerve surgery, elbow • Knee surgery (left) posterior horn medial meniscal tear – “Progression of pain and chronicity of symptoms is consistent by his history with his injury in 1996” • Esophageal dilation – Hiatal hernia Medical Equipment Prescribed • Prosthetic leg braces • Cane • Walker • Crutches • Toilet riser • Shower chair • CPAP machine • Tens Unit • V pulse • Knee brace (left) • Wrist braces (left & right) • Arm sling • Hearing aids • Shoe insoles • Sleep machine Medications • Gabapentin – 600mg - one tablet 3 times a day for mood / nerve pain / insomnia • Buspirone HCL – 10mg - two tablets 3 times a day for anxiety & irritability • Bupropion HCL – 150mg - two tablets every morning for mood / motivation energy • Duloxetine HCL – 60mg - one capsule twice a day for mood & anxiety • Mirtazapine – 15mg - one tablet at bedtime for sleep / nightmares • Clonidine HCL - 0.2mg - one tablet at bedtime for sleep / anxiety / nightmares • Lisinopril – 10mg - one tablet at bedtime for blood pressure • Pantoprazole NA – 40mg - one tablet before breakfast for hiatal hernia • Atorvastatin Calcium – 20mg - ½ tablet at bedtime • Megestrol Acetate 20mg - one tablet daily to help with side effects of prostate cancer treatment • Abiraterone Acetate (Zitega) – 250mg - four tablets daily for prostate cancer hormone therapy • Prednisone – 10mg - ½ tablet twice a day to support Abiraterone • Iron - 65MG - one tablet a day for anemia • Calcium - 500MG - one tablet a day • Vitamin B-12 - 1000mgc - one tablet per day • Lidocaine cream • Naproxen • Bilateral shoulder injections