BVA decisions by condition
Intervertebral disc syndrome: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a intervertebral disc syndrome issue in 45,078 decisions. It granted the intervertebral disc syndrome issue in 19.2% of them, close to the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 30.5%, and remanded it in 49.7%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 38.6% were granted.
Decisions
45,078
2017–2026
Granted
19.2%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
38.6%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
49.7%
Denied: 30.5%
Intervertebral disc syndrome outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3,157 | 12.7% | 36.6% | 42.1% | 8.6% |
| 2018 | 5,079 | 14.6% | 33.2% | 46.1% | 6.1% |
| 2019 | 5,692 | 14.7% | 30.3% | 52.3% | 2.7% |
| 2020 | 5,731 | 16.2% | 34.6% | 47.1% | 2.1% |
| 2021 | 5,393 | 17.8% | 31.9% | 48.1% | 2.2% |
| 2022 | 5,153 | 18.5% | 25.8% | 53.5% | 2.2% |
| 2023 | 5,329 | 19.7% | 25.5% | 52.6% | 2.1% |
| 2024 | 5,295 | 22.6% | 28.2% | 47.1% | 2.1% |
| 2025 | 4,949 | 25.0% | 29.8% | 43.8% | 1.3% |
| 2026 | 1,893 | 30.9% | 28.5% | 39.0% | 1.6% |
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 Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome.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.
Evidence in granted and denied intervertebral disc syndrome decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the intervertebral disc syndrome 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 | 6,795 | 72.9% | 29.5% | +43.4 pts |
| Buddy statement | 1,829 | 60.4% | 37.6% | +22.8 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 4,953 | 56.9% | 35.0% | +21.9 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 14,146 | 51.0% | 31.0% | +20.0 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 2,398 | 57.1% | 37.2% | +19.8 pts |
| Combat service | 2,279 | 54.5% | 37.7% | +16.8 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 4,600 | 54.0% | 37.6% | +16.4 pts |
| Lay statement | 38,543 | 38.2% | 41.9% | −3.7 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 71.6% of the decisions that granted intervertebral disc syndrome.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 43.2% of grants and 14.1% 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 intervertebral disc syndrome 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 | 21,290 | 39.6% | 37.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 33,983 | 37.2% | 45.8% | −8.6 pts |
Intervertebral disc syndrome claimed as a secondary condition
Decisions where intervertebral disc syndrome was claimed as secondary to another service-connected disability (38 CFR 3.310), by that disability.
Why the Board granted or denied intervertebral disc syndrome
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established1,047
- Continuity of symptomatology since service279
- Caused by the service-connected disability125
- Service connection established82
- Forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less67
- Criteria for service connection met63
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service60
- New and material evidence submitted59
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim1,597
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service1,098
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis949
- Service records negative or silent698
- Current diagnosis established582
- No current diagnosis346
- No continuity of symptomatology236
- Continuity of symptomatology since service209
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.
Recent intervertebral disc syndrome decisions
Granted
Current diagnosis of lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis; In-service injury from motor vehicle accident in October 1995; Probative private medical opinion finding condition at least as likely as not related to service; Inadequate VA nexus opinions due to inaccurate premise and lack of rationale; Evidence in approximate balance, affording benefit of the doubt
August 2025 VA examination found forward flexion limited to 10 degrees during flare-up, with pain.; Examiner explained "locking up" episodes do not constitute functional ankylosis.; No ankylosis or neurologic abnormalities found; no IVDS or incapacitating episodes.
New and relevant evidence (private medical opinion and treatment records) warranted readjudication.; Evidence persuasively favors conclusion that condition is at least as likely as not secondary to service-connected left tibia stress fracture with left shin splint.; Resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
Denied
Veteran failed to attend scheduled VA examination without good cause.; No evidence of current back disability.; Most recent treatment for back strain was in December 2010.
No competent, credible, persuasive medical opinion establishing etiological relationship to service.; VA examiner opined condition less likely than not related to service.; Service medical records silent for back complaints; first VA mention 25 years post-service.
Service treatment records absent of back pain complaints or findings; Veteran denied recurrent back pain during service; No medical evidence or opinion linking current disability to service
Rules that apply to intervertebral disc syndrome claims
- 38 CFR 4.71a · DC 5243
Schedule of ratings: musculoskeletal system
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.iii.1.B.3
Spine: evaluating IVDS and incapacitating episodes
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 intervertebral disc syndrome 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 intervertebral disc syndrome 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.