{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/hip-impairment-secondary-to-knee","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:25.815Z","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 knee condition","secondary_condition":"Hip impairment","service_connected_disability":"a knee condition","decisions":2669,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":19,"denied_pct":17.9,"remanded_pct":63,"granted_on_merits_pct":51.4,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":218,"granted_pct":12.4,"denied_pct":28,"remanded_pct":57.8},{"year":2018,"issues":318,"granted_pct":11,"denied_pct":25.8,"remanded_pct":61.9},{"year":2019,"issues":368,"granted_pct":12.2,"denied_pct":22.6,"remanded_pct":64.4},{"year":2020,"issues":375,"granted_pct":11.5,"denied_pct":25.9,"remanded_pct":62.4},{"year":2021,"issues":390,"granted_pct":17.2,"denied_pct":14.1,"remanded_pct":68.5},{"year":2022,"issues":384,"granted_pct":16.7,"denied_pct":14.1,"remanded_pct":68.8},{"year":2023,"issues":416,"granted_pct":15.6,"denied_pct":13.5,"remanded_pct":70.7},{"year":2024,"issues":457,"granted_pct":26,"denied_pct":8.8,"remanded_pct":64.6},{"year":2025,"issues":396,"granted_pct":32.8,"denied_pct":10.4,"remanded_pct":56.6},{"year":2026,"issues":178,"granted_pct":37.1,"denied_pct":15.2,"remanded_pct":47.2}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":78.5,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":275,"granted_pct_with":74.7,"granted_pct_without":46.3},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":2214,"granted_pct_with":49.9,"granted_pct_without":63.3},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":621,"granted_pct_with":86.6,"granted_pct_without":23.1},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":1883,"granted_pct_with":49,"granted_pct_without":60.2},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":1002,"granted_pct_with":70.4,"granted_pct_without":28.5},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":162,"granted_pct_with":80.4,"granted_pct_without":48.1},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":2165,"granted_pct_with":46.6,"granted_pct_without":75.3},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":53,"granted_pct_with":44.4,"granted_pct_without":51.5},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":54,"granted_pct_with":40.9,"granted_pct_without":51.7}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":103},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":63},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":58},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":21},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":8},{"reason":"secondary service connection granted","decisions":6}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":92},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":84},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":63},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":47},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":38},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":25}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"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":"A26037367","year":2026,"judge":"DELYVONNE M. WHITEHEAD","rationale":"Private opinion found hip osteoarthritis at least as likely as not due to service-connected knee residuals.; Private opinion cited \"knee-hip-spine syndrome\" and multi-causal links.; VA opinion found inadequate due to internal inconsistency and failure to address aggravation."},{"case_id":"A26034668","year":2026,"judge":"DUSTIN L. WARE","rationale":"Private medical opinion found left hip secondary to service-connected back and bilateral knee conditions; Satisfied elements for secondary service connection; Benefit of the doubt resolved in veteran's favor"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26035224","year":2026,"judge":"B.T. KNOPE","rationale":"No in-service onset; No continuity of symptoms; Not proximately due to service-connected disability; Hip pain attributed to radiculopathy"},{"case_id":"A26032527","year":2026,"judge":"A. ISHIZAWAR","rationale":"No objective findings of functional impairment; Insufficient evidence to support diagnosis; Symptoms only subjectively reported"},{"case_id":"A26025527","year":2026,"judge":"JOHN Z. JONES","rationale":"No evidence of current disability for right hip; Lack of service treatment records or post-service medical records; Veteran's statements insufficient to trigger duty to assist"}]},"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":3500,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":1657,"granted_pct":10.3},"causation_only":{"issues":1843,"granted_pct":26.6},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":29.2,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":837,"granted_pct":33.9,"examples":[{"case_id":"26001800","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Hip pain began after knee injury in service, leading to altered gait mechanics and subsequent hip pain."},{"case_id":"26001600","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Lack of chronic gait alteration and plausible nexus."}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":139,"granted_pct":10.1,"examples":[{"case_id":"26001800","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Service connection for a right hip disability was granted as secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine disabilities, mediated by obesity."},{"case_id":"A25097298","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"VA clinician opined condition likely due to occupation (EMT) and obesity"}]},{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":59,"granted_pct":35.6,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26014840","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Veteran has current right hip disability due to pain impairing earning capacity."},{"case_id":"A25005724","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Appellant did not mention pain interfering with ministry.."}]},{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":42,"granted_pct":26.2,"examples":[{"case_id":"26001800","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Service-connected disabilities (fibromyalgia, cervical degenerative arthritis, lumbar radiculopathy, lumbar degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis) met."},{"case_id":"A26035224","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Hip pain attributed to radiculopathy."}]},{"pathway":"Stress","issues":34,"granted_pct":41.2,"examples":[{"case_id":"26001914","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The August 2024 VA examiner found it at least as likely as not due to the right knee disability, citing biomechanical changes and increased stress."},{"case_id":"A22004102","year":2022,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The veteran claimed service connection for a right hip disorder, alleging pain from repetitive stress during service and alternatively, that it was secondary to right knee patellar tendinosis."}]},{"pathway":"Reduced activity or mobility","issues":10,"granted_pct":10,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25106823","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"VA treatment records note pain causing mobility issues"}]}]},"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."}}