{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/degenerative-arthritis-spine-secondary-to-knee","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:31.319Z","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 a knee condition","secondary_condition":"Degenerative arthritis of the spine","service_connected_disability":"a knee condition","decisions":2455,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":24,"denied_pct":19.6,"remanded_pct":55,"granted_on_merits_pct":55.1,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":225,"granted_pct":17.8,"denied_pct":29.3,"remanded_pct":48},{"year":2018,"issues":238,"granted_pct":18.9,"denied_pct":23.1,"remanded_pct":53.8},{"year":2019,"issues":281,"granted_pct":19.2,"denied_pct":21.7,"remanded_pct":56.9},{"year":2020,"issues":302,"granted_pct":20.9,"denied_pct":24.8,"remanded_pct":53.6},{"year":2021,"issues":289,"granted_pct":21.5,"denied_pct":23.5,"remanded_pct":54.3},{"year":2022,"issues":297,"granted_pct":21.9,"denied_pct":18.9,"remanded_pct":58.6},{"year":2023,"issues":297,"granted_pct":24.9,"denied_pct":14.5,"remanded_pct":59.9},{"year":2024,"issues":290,"granted_pct":32.1,"denied_pct":12.1,"remanded_pct":54.5},{"year":2025,"issues":216,"granted_pct":35.2,"denied_pct":11.1,"remanded_pct":53.7},{"year":2026,"issues":79,"granted_pct":34.2,"denied_pct":8.9,"remanded_pct":57}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":78.1,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":273,"granted_pct_with":79.9,"granted_pct_without":49.5},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":2097,"granted_pct_with":52.6,"granted_pct_without":77.3},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":659,"granted_pct_with":89.8,"granted_pct_without":24.5},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":1904,"granted_pct_with":50.4,"granted_pct_without":81.6},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":1035,"granted_pct_with":72.2,"granted_pct_without":29.8},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":164,"granted_pct_with":74.5,"granted_pct_without":53},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":2005,"granted_pct_with":49.6,"granted_pct_without":85.1},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":55,"granted_pct_with":59.1,"granted_pct_without":55.1},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":55,"granted_pct_with":54.2,"granted_pct_without":55.2}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":106},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":69},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":56},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":29},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":15},{"reason":"new and material evidence received to reopen claim","decisions":8}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":96},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":71},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":69},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":53},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":28},{"reason":"no continuity of symptomatology","decisions":22}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26038269","year":2026,"judge":"ANN K. MINAMI","rationale":"Lumbar spine condition found secondary to left knee condition; VA and private opinions provided positive nexus; Resolved doubt in Veteran's favor"},{"case_id":"A26037582","year":2026,"judge":"A. J. SPECTOR","rationale":"Secondary to service-connected right knee disability; Caused or aggravated by service-connected right knee disability; Resolved doubt in Veteran's favor"},{"case_id":"A26035952","year":2026,"judge":"DAVID H. ROBERTSON","rationale":"No in-service onset for lumbar spine disability.; Service-connected for right and left knee disabilities.; Private physician opinion linked lumbar spine disability to knee injuries.; Opinion was probative and supported by medical articles.; Evidence found in equipoise; doubt resolved in Veteran's fa… [truncated, 4 chars omitted]"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26003456","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL LANE","rationale":"Lack of in-service complaints or diagnosis of back condition; Medical opinions attributed condition to age and non-service factors; Veteran's lay assertions insufficient to establish nexus without medical evidence"},{"case_id":"A26015831","year":2026,"judge":"D. JOHNSON","rationale":"Veteran not competent to provide nexus opinion; Private opinion lacked probative value and rationale; Issue raised late in appeal process, no duty to assist"},{"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."}]},"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":2514,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":1262,"granted_pct":13.3},"causation_only":{"issues":1252,"granted_pct":34.4},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":34.6,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":704,"granted_pct":42,"examples":[{"case_id":"26001008","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Competent and credible lay testimony regarding biomechanical cause"},{"case_id":"25003688","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Veteran's statements about back pain onset relative to knee surgery and antalgic gait were not fully accounted for in VA opinions."}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":113,"granted_pct":11.5,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25009172","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Obesity found to be a substantial factor in causing low back disability, and would not have occurred but for obesity.."},{"case_id":"25005815","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Current back condition attributed to post-service scoliosis and morbid obesity."}]},{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":78,"granted_pct":37.2,"examples":[{"case_id":"25014049","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, was granted on a secondary basis."},{"case_id":"24012505","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Post-service records show spinal procedures for nerve issues and fusion surgery."}]},{"pathway":"Stress","issues":40,"granted_pct":77.5,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26019794","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Veteran's altered gait and knee instability from service-connected knee conditions led to abnormal stress on the lower back, causing worsening lumbar pain and documented degenerative changes."},{"case_id":"22023089","year":2022,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Medical opinions found mild limp unlikely to cause significant spinal stress or aggravation.."}]},{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":39,"granted_pct":38.5,"examples":[{"case_id":"A24014608","year":2024,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Veteran asserted that altered gait and posture due to decades of right knee pain caused this condition."},{"case_id":"A26005951","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The veteran claims service connection for a lumbar disability, alleging it is secondary to a left knee disability and due to back pain after a cesarean section."}]}]},"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."}}