{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/thoracolumbar-or-lumbar-spine-limitation-of-motion-secondary-to-knee","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:35.028Z","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":"Thoracolumbar or lumbar spine limitation of motion secondary to a knee condition","secondary_condition":"Thoracolumbar or lumbar spine limitation of motion","service_connected_disability":"a knee condition","decisions":637,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":8.6,"denied_pct":13.5,"remanded_pct":77.2,"granted_on_merits_pct":39,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":42,"granted_pct":0,"denied_pct":16.7,"remanded_pct":81},{"year":2018,"issues":76,"granted_pct":6.6,"denied_pct":22.4,"remanded_pct":69.7},{"year":2019,"issues":83,"granted_pct":8.4,"denied_pct":12,"remanded_pct":79.5},{"year":2020,"issues":95,"granted_pct":3.2,"denied_pct":8.4,"remanded_pct":87.4},{"year":2021,"issues":76,"granted_pct":6.6,"denied_pct":17.1,"remanded_pct":76.3},{"year":2022,"issues":77,"granted_pct":7.8,"denied_pct":11.7,"remanded_pct":79.2},{"year":2023,"issues":75,"granted_pct":9.3,"denied_pct":13.3,"remanded_pct":77.3},{"year":2024,"issues":58,"granted_pct":17.2,"denied_pct":3.4,"remanded_pct":79.3},{"year":2025,"issues":42,"granted_pct":21.4,"denied_pct":16.7,"remanded_pct":61.9}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":80,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":42,"granted_pct_with":57.1,"granted_pct_without":37},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":488,"granted_pct_with":38.3,"granted_pct_without":42.3},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":101,"granted_pct_with":79.1,"granted_pct_without":21.4},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":415,"granted_pct_with":38.3,"granted_pct_without":41.2},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":227,"granted_pct_with":66.2,"granted_pct_without":13.7},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":530,"granted_pct_with":35.1,"granted_pct_without":55.6}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":11},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":4},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":4},{"reason":"new and material evidence received to reopen claim","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":10},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":8},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":8},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":8},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":6},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":4}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26029227","year":2026,"judge":"S.C. KREMBS","rationale":"Criteria for service connection met; Worsened by service-connected right knee strain"},{"case_id":"A26023347","year":2026,"judge":"A. C. MACKENZIE","rationale":"Evidence in approximate balance regarding secondary causation; Benefit of the doubt applied in favor of the veteran"},{"case_id":"A26023260","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL R. CASEY","rationale":"Secondary service connection granted; Private opinion links low back condition to altered gait from knee disability; VA examiner did not adequately address secondary nexus or lay statements; Board found private opinion more probative"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26022508","year":2026,"judge":"T. RAYMOND","rationale":"Favorable finding of current lumbar spine disability by AOJ; Favorable finding of service-connected primary disability (knees) by AOJ; VA examiner opined less likely than not related to service-connected condition; Lack of sufficient medical literature supporting connection; Veteran's lay testimony … [truncated, 38 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26007179","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL R. CASEY","rationale":"No current diagnosis of low back condition found on VA exam; No functional impairment to earning capacity noted; Lack of objective evidence or treatment records supporting diagnosis"},{"case_id":"A26000316","year":2026,"judge":"L. HOWELL","rationale":"STRs silent for back complaints/treatment; Separation exam normal; VA examiners concluded not incurred in service; No nexus for secondary claim to right knee disability"}]},"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":637,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":288,"granted_pct":4.2},"causation_only":{"issues":349,"granted_pct":12.3},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":21.4,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":118,"granted_pct":20.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26023260","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Private opinion links low back condition to altered gait from knee disability"},{"case_id":"A26000316","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Secondary claims to the service-connected right knee disability were denied, with the Board finding the Veteran's lay statements about altered gait unsupported by clinical records."}]}]},"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."}}