BVA decisions by condition
Degenerative arthritis of the spine: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a degenerative arthritis of the spine issue in 58,573 decisions. It granted the degenerative arthritis of the spine issue in 21.2% of them, close to the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 31.4%, and remanded it in 47.0%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 40.3% were granted.
From Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions: appeals, not VA's first decisions. Issue-level outcomes.
Decisions
58,573
2017–2026
Granted
21.2%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
40.3%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
47.0%
Denied: 31.4%
At a glance
Evidence in granted and denied degenerative arthritis of the spine decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the degenerative arthritis of the spine issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 8,942 | 76.2% | 30.0% | +46.2 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 6,339 | 60.9% | 36.3% | +24.6 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 3,416 | 60.2% | 38.5% | +21.8 pts |
| Buddy statement | 2,168 | 59.9% | 39.3% | +20.6 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 18,435 | 52.4% | 32.2% | +20.3 pts |
| Combat service | 2,786 | 55.5% | 39.4% | +16.2 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 7,107 | 50.0% | 39.2% | +10.8 pts |
| Lay statement | 48,462 | 39.9% | 43.4% | −3.5 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 73.9% of the decisions that granted degenerative arthritis of the spine.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 46.1% of grants and 13.6% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often degenerative arthritis of the spine was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 27,702 | 41.6% | 38.7% | +2.9 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 44,071 | 38.7% | 48.8% | −10.0 pts |
Recent degenerative arthritis of the spine decisions
Granted
Veteran reported in-service injury and treatment for back; STRs unavailable, despite multiple attempts to locate; Inadequate VA examiner opinions that did not consider lay statements or provide adequate rationales
Positive February 2026 VA opinion finding nexus to service; Veteran's statements of continuity of symptomatology found credible; Evidence in relative balance between positive and negative opinions
Equipoise of evidence regarding service connection; Benefit of the doubt doctrine applied; Private medical opinion linked condition to military activities
Denied
Prior to March 31, 2025, criteria for higher than 20% rating not met.; From March 31, 2025, criteria for higher than 40% rating not met.; No evidence of ankylosis, specific motion limitations, or prolonged incapacitating episodes.
Forward flexion not limited to the degree required for a higher rating.; No evidence of severe muscle spasm, guarding, ankylosis, or IVDS.; Flare-ups did not result in functional loss beyond what was considered for the 10% rating.
Evidence did not meet criteria for ankylosis or higher IVDS ratings.; Veteran's reported pain did not constitute functional loss beyond assigned ratings.; Board found evidence decidedly against higher ratings.
Degenerative arthritis of the spine claimed as a secondary condition
Decisions where degenerative arthritis of the spine was claimed as secondary to another service-connected disability (38 CFR 3.310), by that disability.
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to a knee condition2,449 decisions · 24.1% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to a back condition679 decisions · 23.7% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to an ankle condition590 decisions · 27.1% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to flat feet364 decisions · 23.1% granted
Degenerative arthritis of the spine outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 4,995 | 13.3% | 36.8% | 44.1% | 5.8% |
| 2018 | 7,064 | 16.0% | 34.8% | 45.6% | 3.6% |
| 2019 | 7,483 | 17.2% | 31.5% | 49.0% | 2.2% |
| 2020 | 7,708 | 18.2% | 36.0% | 44.3% | 1.5% |
| 2021 | 7,339 | 19.9% | 33.5% | 44.7% | 1.9% |
| 2022 | 6,807 | 21.9% | 26.5% | 49.9% | 1.8% |
| 2023 | 7,088 | 22.1% | 26.2% | 50.2% | 1.6% |
| 2024 | 6,638 | 26.4% | 27.0% | 44.8% | 1.9% |
| 2025 | 5,525 | 26.6% | 27.8% | 43.7% | 1.9% |
| 2026 | 2,309 | 33.9% | 26.5% | 37.7% | 1.9% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 50 issues are left out.
Why the Board granted or denied degenerative arthritis of the spine
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established1,658
- Continuity of symptomatology since service710
- Caused by the service-connected disability256
- Service connection established152
- Criteria for service connection met113
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service100
- Forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less77
- Evidence evenly balanced70
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim2,388
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service1,955
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis1,710
- Service records negative or silent916
- Current diagnosis established713
- No continuity of symptomatology651
- Continuity of symptomatology since service418
- No current diagnosis245
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
How the Board rates degenerative arthritis of the spine
The Board decided 31,424 degenerative arthritis of the spine rating issues from 2017 to 2026: it granted a higher rating in 16%, denied one in 34% and sent 48% back for a new exam or more records.
By diagnostic code
The codes the Board rated degenerative arthritis of the spine under, most used first. “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands. The last column is the percent the Board assigned most often when it granted a higher rating.
| Code | Issues | Granted on the merits | Remanded | Most common rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5242Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (also, see either DC 5003 or 5010) | 2,295 | 27.8% | 6.9% | 40% (52% of grants) |
| 5237 | 601 | 28.4% | 6.2% | 40% (64% of grants) |
| 5243 | 562 | 27.7% | 7.7% | 40% (53% of grants) |
| 5003 | 213 | 36.0% | 15.0% | 10% (62% of grants) |
| 5235 | 179 | 27.3% | 6.7% | 40% (39% of grants) |
| 5010 | 85 | 29.2% | 21.2% | 40% (54% of grants) |
| 8520 | 48 | 32.0% | 45.8% | 40% (80% of grants) |
26,845 issues named no diagnostic code, most of them remands.
Ratings the Board assigned
Share of each percent among the 2,728 grants that stated one.
- 10%4.3%
- 20%33.7%
- 30%7.3%
- 40%51.1%
- 50%2.5%
- 60%0.7%
- 70%0.0%
- 100%0.3%
Why the Board granted a higher rating
- benefit of the doubt / evidence in equipoise1,629
- painful motion, functional loss or flare-ups1,407
- range of motion findings995
- criteria for the rating met or more nearly approximated444
- criteria for a higher rating not met299
- resolving doubt in veteran's favor74
Why the Board denied one
- criteria for a higher rating not met4,310
- range of motion findings2,819
- painful motion, functional loss or flare-ups2,114
- preponderance of evidence against higher rating280
- benefit of the doubt / evidence in equipoise251
- no evidence of ankylosis155
Evidence in rating grants and denials
How often the Board granted a higher degenerative arthritis of the spine rating on the merits when the decision mentioned each kind of evidence, against decisions that did not. Associations, not causes.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favorable VA exam | 3,501 | 47.6% | 28.2% | +19.4 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 7,795 | 39.2% | 28.0% | +11.2 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 1,487 | 42.0% | 30.9% | +11.1 pts |
| Lay statement | 23,768 | 31.6% | 32.0% | −0.4 pts |
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfavorable VA exam | 21,886 | 30.4% | 38.2% | −7.8 pts |
The Board applied the benefit of the doubt (38 CFR 3.102) in 63.2% of the decisions that granted a higher rating.
Recent rating decisions
Higher rating granted
Reduction in rating was improper as void ab initio; Procedural due process requirements not met; Evidence evenly balanced to suggest no permanent improvement
Forward flexion limited to 15 degrees; Benefit of doubt applied; Evidence in equipoise for 30% rating
September 28, 2018, DBQ results showed functional equivalent of ankylosis.; Veteran's testimony and VA examination noted locking and pain during movement.; 50 percent rating granted effective September 28, 2018.
Denied
Prior to March 31, 2025, criteria for higher than 20% rating not met.; From March 31, 2025, criteria for higher than 40% rating not met.; No evidence of ankylosis, specific motion limitations, or prolonged incapacitating episodes.
Forward flexion not limited to the degree required for a higher rating.; No evidence of severe muscle spasm, guarding, ankylosis, or IVDS.; Flare-ups did not result in functional loss beyond what was considered for the 10% rating.
Evidence did not meet criteria for ankylosis or higher IVDS ratings.; Veteran's reported pain did not constitute functional loss beyond assigned ratings.; Board found evidence decidedly against higher ratings.
How VA rates degenerative arthritis of the spine
Once service connection is granted, VA assigns a disability rating from the rating schedule, 38 CFR 4.71a, diagnostic code 5242 (Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (also, see either DC 5003 or 5010)). The rating is the same whether the condition is service connected directly or as secondary to another disability.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 60% | With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months |
| 40% | With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the past 12 months |
| 20% | With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 2 weeks but less than 4 weeks during the past 12 months |
| 10% | With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least one week but less than 2 weeks during the past 12 months |
| | Rating |
- Note: If traumatic paralysis does not cause loss of use of both hands or both feet, it is incomplete paralysis. Evaluate residuals of incomplete traumatic paralysis under the appropriate diagnostic code (e.g., § 4.124a, Diseases of the Peripheral Nerves).
- Note (1): For purposes of evaluations under diagnostic code 5243, an incapacitating episode is a period of acute signs and symptoms due to intervertebral disc syndrome that requires bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician.
- Note (2): If intervertebral disc syndrome is present in more than one spinal segment, provided that the effects in each spinal segment are clearly distinct, evaluate each segment on the basis of incapacitating episodes or under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, whichever method results in a higher evaluation for that segment.
Text of 38 CFR 4.71a as of Feb 27, 2026. Confirm the current text at the source before relying on it.
Rules that apply to degenerative arthritis of the spine claims
- 38 CFR 4.71a · DC 5242
Schedule of ratings: musculoskeletal system
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.iii.1.B.3
Spine: evaluating manifestations of spine diseases and injuries
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.iii.1.C
Arthritis: degenerative arthritis and separately compensable joints
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.iii.1.A
Painful motion and functional loss (38 CFR 4.59, DeLuca, Mitchell, Correia)
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your degenerative arthritis of the spine case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a degenerative arthritis of the spine issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.
Where this data comes from
- Claim
- Regional office decides
- Veteran appeals
- Board decides
- Granted · Denied · Remanded: back to the regional office
Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions show how VA's highest review body applies 38 CFR and weighs evidence on contested claims.
Each one is an appeal: a regional office decided the claim first, and the veteran appealed. So these rates describe the Board, not a veteran's odds at the regional office, where most claims are decided and whose decisions are not public.
More on what Board decisions can and cannot tell you