{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/intervertebral-disc-syndrome-secondary-to-knee","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:27.274Z","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":"Intervertebral disc syndrome secondary to a knee condition","secondary_condition":"Intervertebral disc syndrome","service_connected_disability":"a knee condition","decisions":1767,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":19.8,"denied_pct":13,"remanded_pct":64.7,"granted_on_merits_pct":60.4,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":107,"granted_pct":8.4,"denied_pct":21.5,"remanded_pct":55.1},{"year":2018,"issues":184,"granted_pct":15.2,"denied_pct":17.4,"remanded_pct":64.7},{"year":2019,"issues":213,"granted_pct":16.4,"denied_pct":9.4,"remanded_pct":71.4},{"year":2020,"issues":207,"granted_pct":18.4,"denied_pct":16.9,"remanded_pct":62.8},{"year":2021,"issues":214,"granted_pct":17.8,"denied_pct":13.6,"remanded_pct":66.8},{"year":2022,"issues":198,"granted_pct":13.6,"denied_pct":10.1,"remanded_pct":74.2},{"year":2023,"issues":217,"granted_pct":20.3,"denied_pct":11.1,"remanded_pct":66.8},{"year":2024,"issues":207,"granted_pct":26.6,"denied_pct":7.7,"remanded_pct":64.7},{"year":2025,"issues":162,"granted_pct":32.7,"denied_pct":13.6,"remanded_pct":52.5},{"year":2026,"issues":79,"granted_pct":30.4,"denied_pct":13.9,"remanded_pct":54.4}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":79.4,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":177,"granted_pct_with":78.3,"granted_pct_without":56.4},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":1459,"granted_pct_with":58.8,"granted_pct_without":73.1},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":448,"granted_pct_with":91.8,"granted_pct_without":28.8},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":1220,"granted_pct_with":57,"granted_pct_without":72.2},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":710,"granted_pct_with":74,"granted_pct_without":39.1},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":108,"granted_pct_with":78.7,"granted_pct_without":58.3},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1440,"granted_pct_with":55.3,"granted_pct_without":85},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":42,"granted_pct_with":76.9,"granted_pct_without":60.1},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":46,"granted_pct_with":56.3,"granted_pct_without":60.6}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":61},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":31},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":29},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":21},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":11},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":6}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":41},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":37},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":32},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":23},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":18},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":9}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26039145","year":2026,"judge":"MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER","rationale":"Conflicting medical opinions regarding nexus; VA examiner: less likely than not related to knee condition; Private provider: at least as likely as not related to knee condition; Board found private opinion more probative due to rationale and consistency"},{"case_id":"A26037707","year":2026,"judge":"B. D. WATSON","rationale":"VA opinion inadequate for failing to address aggravation; Private treatment note persuasive regarding gait changes exacerbating back pain; Veteran testimony supported gait strain on lower back; Evidence in approximate balance, doubt resolved in Veteran's favor"},{"case_id":"A26036913","year":2026,"judge":"TANYA SMITH","rationale":"Current disability documented in VA treatment records; Persuasive private medical opinion linking back condition to service-connected knee disabilities; Opinion stated it is more likely than not the back pain is due to in-service injury and knee replacement"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26037649","year":2026,"judge":"M. M. CELLI","rationale":"No causal relationship to service or service-connected knee disabilities.; Onset of back pain reported years after service.; No in-service event or diagnosis for back disorder."},{"case_id":"A26024687","year":2026,"judge":"S. HENEKS","rationale":"Contemporaneous medical evidence more probative than later statements; VA examiner opinions found less likely than not related to service/aggravated by knee disability; Lengthy period between service and symptom onset weighs against claim"},{"case_id":"26002587","year":2026,"judge":"E. I. VELEZ","rationale":"Failure to attend VA examination without good cause; Service treatment records silent for back complaints/diagnoses; No evidence of nexus to service or secondary service connection"}]},"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":1788,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":859,"granted_pct":11.5},"causation_only":{"issues":929,"granted_pct":27.1},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":29.4,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":413,"granted_pct":36.1,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26000574","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The veteran reported pain and functional impairment, and a private orthopedist opined that the knee condition altered gait and posture, leading to back pain."},{"case_id":"26001600","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"no chronic gait alteration documented.."}]},{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":58,"granted_pct":43.1,"examples":[{"case_id":"25005767","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Service connection for lumbar strain with bilateral lower extremity radiculitis and lumbar facet spondylitis was granted on a secondary basis to service-connected left and right knee joint osteoarthritis."},{"case_id":"A26009303","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Service connection for a low back disorder, including DDD, lumbosacral strain, and lumbar radiculopathy, was denied."}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":53,"granted_pct":18.9,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25013105","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"VA examiner opined back disability less likely than not related to service-connected left knee disability, citing age and obesity."},{"case_id":"24025475","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Diagnosed back conditions are more likely due to age, obesity, and lack of in-service injury."}]},{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":35,"granted_pct":37.1,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26005289","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Veteran claimed his back pain resulted from an antalgic gait caused by his knee pain."},{"case_id":"19156765","year":2019,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"No functional impairment of earning capacity due to pain"}]},{"pathway":"Stress","issues":12,"granted_pct":58.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"A24022983","year":2024,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The Board found that the veteran's service-connected knee and foot conditions caused abnormal biomechanical stressors in the spine, leading to these lumbar conditions."}]}]},"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."}}