{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/hip-impairment-secondary-to-back","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:23.487Z","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 a back condition","secondary_condition":"Hip impairment","service_connected_disability":"a back condition","decisions":2040,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":14,"denied_pct":19.6,"remanded_pct":65.7,"granted_on_merits_pct":41.7,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":170,"granted_pct":7.1,"denied_pct":31.8,"remanded_pct":58.8},{"year":2018,"issues":244,"granted_pct":6.1,"denied_pct":23,"remanded_pct":68.9},{"year":2019,"issues":252,"granted_pct":11.1,"denied_pct":21,"remanded_pct":66.7},{"year":2020,"issues":317,"granted_pct":12.3,"denied_pct":23.7,"remanded_pct":62.8},{"year":2021,"issues":353,"granted_pct":11.3,"denied_pct":18.4,"remanded_pct":69.7},{"year":2022,"issues":318,"granted_pct":14.5,"denied_pct":16.7,"remanded_pct":68.2},{"year":2023,"issues":352,"granted_pct":13.4,"denied_pct":15.9,"remanded_pct":70.7},{"year":2024,"issues":321,"granted_pct":16.5,"denied_pct":17.8,"remanded_pct":65.7},{"year":2025,"issues":287,"granted_pct":23.3,"denied_pct":16.4,"remanded_pct":59.9},{"year":2026,"issues":127,"granted_pct":33.9,"denied_pct":13.4,"remanded_pct":52.8}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":74.1,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":225,"granted_pct_with":79.7,"granted_pct_without":33.4},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":1681,"granted_pct_with":40.9,"granted_pct_without":47.6},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":371,"granted_pct_with":84.7,"granted_pct_without":19.3},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":1374,"granted_pct_with":37.8,"granted_pct_without":53.9},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":658,"granted_pct_with":55.6,"granted_pct_without":31.1},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":106,"granted_pct_with":60,"granted_pct_without":40.3},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1699,"granted_pct_with":37.1,"granted_pct_without":67},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":69,"granted_pct_with":48.1,"granted_pct_without":41.4},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":71,"granted_pct_with":40,"granted_pct_without":41.7}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":72},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":40},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":34},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":18},{"reason":"secondary service connection granted","decisions":4},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":4}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":76},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":70},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":55},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":37},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":35},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":31}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040917","year":2026,"judge":"YVETTE R. WHITE","rationale":"Private medical opinion provided favorable nexus; Equipoise resolved in Veteran's favor; Secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability"},{"case_id":"A26039796","year":2026,"judge":"JOHN Z. JONES","rationale":"Favorable finding of hip condition from AOJ; VA opinion inadequate (unsupported by rationale, conclusory); Competent and credible private opinion linked hip disability to back disability (hip-spine syndrome)"},{"case_id":"A26037742","year":2026,"judge":"S. SORATHIA","rationale":"Service-connected lumbar spine disability.; Private opinion found bursitis proximately due to lumbar spine disability.; Benefit of the doubt afforded."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26034621","year":2026,"judge":"M. MILLS","rationale":"Favorable AOJ finding for diagnosis of myofascial syndrome.; Negative nexus opinions from VA examiners (Feb 2023, Sep 2024).; Private opinion less persuasive due to lack of baseline severity analysis."},{"case_id":"A26030936","year":2026,"judge":"A. ISHIZAWAR","rationale":"Lack of service treatment records for hip condition; Hip condition likely due to post-service factors; No service connection for primary low back condition"},{"case_id":"26003815","year":2026,"judge":"G. E. WILKERSON","rationale":"No current diagnosis of left hip disability found in VA or private treatment records.; Subjective left hip pain reported by Veteran, but no evidence of functional impairment of earning capacity.; Evidence weighs against the claim, making benefit-of-the-doubt rule inapplicable."}]},"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":2741,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":1122,"granted_pct":6.1},"causation_only":{"issues":1619,"granted_pct":19.8},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":21.2,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":302,"granted_pct":29.5,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26004978","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Altered gait mechanics due to service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities"},{"case_id":"26003006","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"No medical literature supports lumbar osteoarthritis causing hip strain or gait alteration leading to hip strain.."}]},{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":211,"granted_pct":11.4,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25022064","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Service connection for bilateral hip pain was granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee disabilities, and lower extremity radiculopathy."},{"case_id":"A26008744","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Post-service records indicated hip pain starting in 2017, attributed by the VA examiner to radiculopathy and the general aging process, not service connection or aggravation by the lumbar spine disability."}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":73,"granted_pct":8.2,"examples":[{"case_id":"26003891","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Obesity as intermediate step."},{"case_id":"A24018639","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"VA examination found hip condition due to wear and tear and obesity, not lumbar spine disease."}]},{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":37,"granted_pct":37.8,"examples":[{"case_id":"24004981","year":2024,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Pain results in functional impairment of earned capacity."},{"case_id":"A24030468","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"No functional impairment in earning capacity due to left hip pain"}]},{"pathway":"Stress","issues":26,"granted_pct":38.5,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25102172","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"A private medical expert linked the condition to gait dysfunction resulting from lumbar spinal disease, which caused compensatory stress on the hip."},{"case_id":"19102667","year":2019,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Examiner noted primary osteoarthritis likely related to aging/stress, not back condition.."}]},{"pathway":"Reduced activity or mobility","issues":10,"granted_pct":30,"examples":[{"case_id":"A24047555","year":2024,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Lumbar immobility causing hip disability."},{"case_id":"21019334","year":2021,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The Board found that the Veteran's reported hip pain and mobility issues were not caused by or aggravated by the lumbar spine condition, but rather were manifestations of separately service-connected lumbar radiculopathies."}]}]},"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."}}