{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/degenerative-arthritis-spine-secondary-to-ankle","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:31.407Z","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":{"claim":"Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to an ankle condition","secondary_condition":"Degenerative arthritis of the spine","service_connected_disability":"an ankle condition","decisions":724,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":25.1,"denied_pct":17.8,"remanded_pct":55.7,"granted_on_merits_pct":58.5,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":64,"granted_pct":15.6,"denied_pct":37.5,"remanded_pct":40.6},{"year":2018,"issues":85,"granted_pct":22.4,"denied_pct":16.5,"remanded_pct":56.5},{"year":2019,"issues":86,"granted_pct":26.7,"denied_pct":12.8,"remanded_pct":60.5},{"year":2020,"issues":83,"granted_pct":24.1,"denied_pct":25.3,"remanded_pct":50.6},{"year":2021,"issues":83,"granted_pct":10.8,"denied_pct":26.5,"remanded_pct":61.4},{"year":2022,"issues":93,"granted_pct":20.4,"denied_pct":16.1,"remanded_pct":63.4},{"year":2023,"issues":74,"granted_pct":21.6,"denied_pct":16.2,"remanded_pct":59.5},{"year":2024,"issues":72,"granted_pct":45.8,"denied_pct":5.6,"remanded_pct":48.6},{"year":2025,"issues":73,"granted_pct":28.8,"denied_pct":6.8,"remanded_pct":63},{"year":2026,"issues":31,"granted_pct":45.2,"denied_pct":6.5,"remanded_pct":48.4}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":81.3,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":78,"granted_pct_with":80.4,"granted_pct_without":54.2},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":610,"granted_pct_with":54.3,"granted_pct_without":84.1},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":214,"granted_pct_with":87.5,"granted_pct_without":27.8},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":553,"granted_pct_with":53.1,"granted_pct_without":82.5},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":319,"granted_pct_with":72.4,"granted_pct_without":34.8},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":63,"granted_pct_with":75,"granted_pct_without":55.8},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":591,"granted_pct_with":54.3,"granted_pct_without":82.6}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":35},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":21},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":16},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":14},{"reason":"continuity of symptomatology since service","decisions":3},{"reason":"service connection granted","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":31},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":28},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":14},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":11},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":9},{"reason":"no continuity of symptomatology","decisions":6}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26037118","year":2026,"judge":"GAYLE STROMMEN","rationale":"Private medical opinion found probative; Positive nexus between lumbar spine and service-connected right ankle; Secondary service connection criteria met"},{"case_id":"26004591","year":2026,"judge":"B. MULLINS","rationale":"Contention of secondary to service-connected right ankle and knee conditions; Conflicting medical opinions regarding causation; Benefit of the doubt applied due to balanced evidence"},{"case_id":"A26035523","year":2026,"judge":"THOMAS H. O'SHAY","rationale":"New and relevant evidence received post-November 2020 decision.; Evidence in relative equipoise.; Benefit of the doubt applied.; Favorable private opinions linked lumbar spine disorder to right ankle disorder."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26020220","year":2026,"judge":"RAY BARTO SLABBEKORN, JR.","rationale":"Back disability not secondary to right ankle disability; Criteria for service connection not met"},{"case_id":"A26013902","year":2026,"judge":"A. P. SIMPSON","rationale":"No medical nexus found between service-connected knee/ankle conditions and lower back disability.; Examiner opined conditions are separate and distinct, developing from wear and tear.; Veteran's lay statements on etiology given little probative value due to lack of medical expertise."},{"case_id":"A25084132","year":2025,"judge":"D. JOHNSON","rationale":"No nexus between back disability and service-connected right ankle.; Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology found not credible.; Post-service workman's comp injury and subsequent surgeries are primary cause.; VA opinions found obesity not caused or aggravated by service-conn… [truncated, 12 chars omitted]"}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":744,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":372,"granted_pct":13.2},"causation_only":{"issues":372,"granted_pct":36.3},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":35.5,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":217,"granted_pct":37.8,"examples":[{"case_id":"26004591","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Veteran contended his back condition was due to his service-connected right ankle and knee conditions and altered gait."},{"case_id":"25011453","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"VA physician found no evidence of gait changes or compensatory strain linking to right ankle disability.."}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":32,"granted_pct":21.9,"examples":[{"case_id":"25014089","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Weight gain from ankle condition stressed the spine.."},{"case_id":"25005815","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Current back condition attributed to post-service scoliosis and morbid obesity."}]},{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":17,"granted_pct":23.5,"examples":[{"case_id":"A24061195","year":2024,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and disc herniation with radiculopathy is granted on direct and secondary bases."},{"case_id":"22014149","year":2022,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"No pathophysiological correlation between neck and lower extremity/median nerve disabilities.."}]},{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":13,"granted_pct":7.7,"examples":[{"case_id":"21060745","year":2021,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Veteran has a current lumbar spine disability diagnosed as degenerative disc disease with chronic pain."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}