{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/leg-impairment","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:06.831Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Leg impairment","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":1045,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":7.9,"denied_pct":35.2,"remanded_pct":57.5,"granted_on_merits_pct":18.4,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":57,"granted_pct":0,"denied_pct":49.1,"remanded_pct":45.6},{"year":2018,"issues":115,"granted_pct":3.5,"denied_pct":31.3,"remanded_pct":60.9},{"year":2019,"issues":166,"granted_pct":4.2,"denied_pct":28.9,"remanded_pct":66.3},{"year":2020,"issues":200,"granted_pct":7.5,"denied_pct":27.5,"remanded_pct":63.5},{"year":2021,"issues":181,"granted_pct":8.8,"denied_pct":35.4,"remanded_pct":55.2},{"year":2022,"issues":132,"granted_pct":4.5,"denied_pct":28.8,"remanded_pct":66.7},{"year":2023,"issues":165,"granted_pct":6.7,"denied_pct":34.5,"remanded_pct":58.8},{"year":2024,"issues":141,"granted_pct":15.6,"denied_pct":40.4,"remanded_pct":41.8},{"year":2025,"issues":109,"granted_pct":17.4,"denied_pct":41.3,"remanded_pct":40.4},{"year":2026,"issues":38,"granted_pct":5.3,"denied_pct":36.8,"remanded_pct":55.3}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":61.4,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":98,"granted_pct_with":41.9,"granted_pct_without":14.7},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":730,"granted_pct_with":14.9,"granted_pct_without":31.3},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":124,"granted_pct_with":45.2,"granted_pct_without":13.2},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":506,"granted_pct_with":10.5,"granted_pct_without":26.5},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":268,"granted_pct_with":24.3,"granted_pct_without":15.8},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":45,"granted_pct_with":29,"granted_pct_without":17.6},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":880,"granted_pct_with":17.7,"granted_pct_without":25},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":46,"granted_pct_with":20,"granted_pct_without":18.3}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":6},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":5},{"reason":"pain alone can constitute a disability","decisions":2},{"reason":"already at the maximum schedular rating","decisions":2},{"reason":"meets criteria for 10 percent rating under dc 5260","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":69},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":41},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":40},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":33},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":27},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":23}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26033779","year":2026,"judge":"D. MARTZ AMES","rationale":"Favorable private medical opinion from wife; Opinion linked left leg disability secondary to right knee; Compensatory movement patterns cited"},{"case_id":"26003019","year":2026,"judge":"STEVEN D. REISS","rationale":"40 percent rating granted; Rated by analogy under DC 5261; Symptoms include pain, swelling, instability, locking, functional impairment"},{"case_id":"A25101455","year":2025,"judge":"LAURA E. COLLINS","rationale":"Establishes causal relationship to in-service injury"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26039728","year":2026,"judge":"SHAUN S. SPERANZA","rationale":"Veteran's testimony credible and weighs against claim; No in-service onset; No nexus to service-connected tinnitus"},{"case_id":"A26039175","year":2026,"judge":"G. E. WILKERSON","rationale":"No service records documenting right leg injury; Tibia fracture likely occurred post-service; VA examiner's opinion outweighed lay testimony"},{"case_id":"A26038983","year":2026,"judge":"MELANIE J. MANN","rationale":"No evidence of in-service event, injury, or disease; Service treatment records negative for relevant complaints/findings; Bare assertion of link to service insufficient"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}