{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/hip-impairment-secondary-to-ankle","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:26.374Z","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":"Hip impairment secondary to an ankle condition","secondary_condition":"Hip impairment","service_connected_disability":"an ankle condition","decisions":766,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":19.8,"denied_pct":17.9,"remanded_pct":62,"granted_on_merits_pct":52.6,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":60,"granted_pct":10,"denied_pct":21.7,"remanded_pct":68.3},{"year":2018,"issues":105,"granted_pct":7.6,"denied_pct":30.5,"remanded_pct":60},{"year":2019,"issues":83,"granted_pct":19.3,"denied_pct":16.9,"remanded_pct":63.9},{"year":2020,"issues":101,"granted_pct":11.9,"denied_pct":22.8,"remanded_pct":65.3},{"year":2021,"issues":102,"granted_pct":16.7,"denied_pct":19.6,"remanded_pct":63.7},{"year":2022,"issues":120,"granted_pct":15.8,"denied_pct":11.7,"remanded_pct":71.7},{"year":2023,"issues":117,"granted_pct":21.4,"denied_pct":17.9,"remanded_pct":59.8},{"year":2024,"issues":129,"granted_pct":24,"denied_pct":7.8,"remanded_pct":68.2},{"year":2025,"issues":104,"granted_pct":35.6,"denied_pct":15.4,"remanded_pct":49},{"year":2026,"issues":40,"granted_pct":50,"denied_pct":12.5,"remanded_pct":37.5}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":82.9,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":69,"granted_pct_with":88.1,"granted_pct_without":46.6},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":649,"granted_pct_with":51.7,"granted_pct_without":60},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":194,"granted_pct_with":88.4,"granted_pct_without":19.9},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":548,"granted_pct_with":51.7,"granted_pct_without":55.9},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":305,"granted_pct_with":73.1,"granted_pct_without":22.9},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":56,"granted_pct_with":69.7,"granted_pct_without":50.4},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":639,"granted_pct_with":48.6,"granted_pct_without":84.4}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":30},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":15},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":12},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":7},{"reason":"conflicting medical opinions on nexus","decisions":2},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":28},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":28},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":16},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":14},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":9},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":8}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26028540","year":2026,"judge":"A. J. SPECTOR","rationale":"Private orthopedic surgeon provided persuasive opinion linking left hip condition to service-connected knee/ankle issues.; VA examiner's negative opinion was less persuasive due to lack of thoroughness.; Benefit of the doubt resolved in veteran's favor."},{"case_id":"A26027923","year":2026,"judge":"K.A. KENNERLY","rationale":"Current bilateral hip joint dysfunction; Private medical opinion found secondary causation; Gait changes from lumbar strain and ankle instability"},{"case_id":"A26025560","year":2026,"judge":"REBECCA N. POULSON","rationale":"Evidence supports 10% rating for left hip extension limitation.; Pain and functional loss considered.; No evidence of ankylosis or functional equivalent found."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26020220","year":2026,"judge":"RAY BARTO SLABBEKORN, JR.","rationale":"Right hip disability not secondary to right ankle disability; Criteria for service connection not met"},{"case_id":"A26010384","year":2026,"judge":"A. JAEGER","rationale":"No definitive diagnosis of right hip disorder in record; Service records negative for hip complaints; Appellant not competent to diagnose etiology of hip disorder; Secondary service connection denied as primary ankle claim denied; New theories raised at hearing were untimely"},{"case_id":"A26003178","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL MARTIN","rationale":"VA opinions found less likely than not related to service; Lack of STR evidence for hip pain; Persuasive weight of evidence against nexus"}]},"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":961,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":440,"granted_pct":10.2},"causation_only":{"issues":521,"granted_pct":28},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":33.1,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":264,"granted_pct":36,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26003203","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Veteran's VA treatment records consistently noted complaints of right hip pain attributed to compensating for right ankle condition."},{"case_id":"A25007039","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The Veteran claimed it was secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and right ankle conditions due to altered gait."}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":32,"granted_pct":25,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25048080","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Multiple VA opinions inadequate for failing to address obesity as intermediate step or aggravation."},{"case_id":"24029255","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"VA examinations in 2023 concluded that the hip disability was less likely than not related to the service-connected ankle condition, attributing it to the post-service fall and subsequent obesity."}]},{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":17,"granted_pct":17.6,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25085668","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"VA opinion found no significant impact from ankle injury unless major muscle/nerve damage occurred."},{"case_id":"25010527","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The veteran claims service connection for a left hip condition, asserting it is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, lower back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy."}]},{"pathway":"Stress","issues":16,"granted_pct":56.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25106647","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Medical literature supports gait alteration leading to hip stress."}]},{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":12,"granted_pct":25,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26025560","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"This rating reflects functional loss due to pain and limitation of motion, approximating extension limited to 5 degrees."},{"case_id":"19184831","year":2019,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Insufficient evidence of functional impairment due to 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."}}