Secondary service connection
Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to an ankle condition: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided degenerative arthritis of the spine claimed as secondary to an ankle condition in 724 decisions. It granted the issue in 25.1% of them, above the 21.2% grant rate for all degenerative arthritis of the spine issues, denied it in 17.8%, and remanded it in 55.7%. Counting only decisions on the merits, 58.5% were granted.
Decisions
724
2017–2026
Granted
25.1%
All degenerative arthritis of the spine: 21.2%
Granted on the merits
58.5%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
55.7%
Denied: 17.8%
See all degenerative arthritis of the spine decisions, direct and secondary.
Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to an ankle condition: outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 64 | 15.6% | 37.5% | 40.6% | 6.3% |
| 2018 | 85 | 22.4% | 16.5% | 56.5% | 4.7% |
| 2019 | 86 | 26.7% | 12.8% | 60.5% | 0.0% |
| 2020 | 83 | 24.1% | 25.3% | 50.6% | 0.0% |
| 2021 | 83 | 10.8% | 26.5% | 61.4% | 1.2% |
| 2022 | 93 | 20.4% | 16.1% | 63.4% | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 74 | 21.6% | 16.2% | 59.5% | 2.7% |
| 2024 | 72 | 45.8% | 5.6% | 48.6% | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 73 | 28.8% | 6.8% | 63.0% | 1.4% |
| 2026 | 31 | 45.2% | 6.5% | 48.4% | 0.0% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 20 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied degenerative arthritis of the spine decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the degenerative arthritis of the spine issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 214 | 87.5% | 27.8% | +59.7 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 319 | 72.4% | 34.8% | +37.7 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 78 | 80.4% | 54.2% | +26.2 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 63 | 75.0% | 55.8% | +19.2 pts |
| Lay statement | 591 | 54.3% | 82.6% | −28.3 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 81.3% of the decisions that granted degenerative arthritis of the spine.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 23.1% of grants and 8.5% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often degenerative arthritis of the spine was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 553 | 53.1% | 82.5% | −29.3 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 610 | 54.3% | 84.1% | −29.8 pts |
How these claims are argued
A secondary claim says an ankle condition caused degenerative arthritis of the spine or made it worse, and names how. Below: whether the Board's decision discussed aggravation, and the medical link each decision names, with how often those issues were granted.
Aggravation discussed
made worse by the disability, 3.310(b)
13.2%
granted, of 372 issues (50.0% of all)
Causation only
caused by the disability, 3.310(a)
36.3%
granted, of 372 issues (50.0% of all)
| Medical link named | Issues | Granted |
|---|---|---|
Altered gait or overuse Granted “The Veteran contended his back condition was due to his service-connected right ankle and knee conditions and altered gait.” 26004591 (2026) Denied “VA physician found no evidence of gait changes or compensatory strain linking to right ankle disability..” 25011453 (2025) | 217 | 37.8% |
Weight gain or obesity Granted “Weight gain from ankle condition stressed the spine..” 25014089 (2025) Denied “Current back condition attributed to post-service scoliosis and morbid obesity.” 25005815 (2025) | 32 | 21.9% |
Nerve involvement Granted “Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) and disc herniation with radiculopathy is granted on direct and secondary bases.” A24061195 (2024) Denied “No pathophysiological correlation between neck and lower extremity/median nerve disabilities..” 22014149 (2022) | 17 | 23.5% |
Chronic pain Granted “The Veteran has a current lumbar spine disability diagnosed as degenerative disc disease with chronic pain.” 21060745 (2021) | 13 | 7.7% |
Based on words in the AI-written summary and reasons for each issue, not a reading of the full decision. 35.5% of the 744 issues name at least one medical link; the rest only say “secondary to” the disability. One issue can name several links. Granted is the share of those issues granted (remands count as not granted). A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.
Why the Board granted or denied degenerative arthritis of the spine
Most common reasons in grants
- Caused by the service-connected disability35
- Current diagnosis established21
- Service connection established16
- Aggravated by the service-connected disability14
- Continuity of symptomatology since service3
- Service connection granted2
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service2
- Current lumbar spine disability diagnosed2
Most common reasons in denials
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service31
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis28
- Service records negative or silent14
- Aggravated by the service-connected disability11
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim9
- No continuity of symptomatology6
- Caused by the service-connected disability3
- Continuity of symptomatology since service2
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent degenerative arthritis of the spine decisions
Granted
Private medical opinion found probative; Positive nexus between lumbar spine and service-connected right ankle; Secondary service connection criteria met
Contention of secondary to service-connected right ankle and knee conditions; Conflicting medical opinions regarding causation; Benefit of the doubt applied due to balanced evidence
New and relevant evidence received post-November 2020 decision.; Evidence in relative equipoise.; Benefit of the doubt applied.; Favorable private opinions linked lumbar spine disorder to right ankle disorder.
Denied
Back disability not secondary to right ankle disability; Criteria for service connection not met
No medical nexus found between service-connected knee/ankle conditions and lower back disability.; Examiner opined conditions are separate and distinct, developing from wear and tear.; Veteran's lay statements on etiology given little probative value due to lack of medical expertise.
No nexus between back disability and service-connected right ankle.; Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology found not credible.; Post-service workman's comp injury and subsequent surgeries are primary cause.; VA opinions found obesity not caused or aggravated by service-connected ankle.
What VA needs to grant a secondary claim
Secondary service connection means VA disability benefits for a condition caused or made worse by a disability that is already service connected (38 CFR 3.310). The claim needs three things:
- A current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the spine.
- An ankle condition is already service connected.
- Medical evidence linking them (a nexus opinion): degenerative arthritis of the spine was caused by an ankle condition (3.310(a)), or was made worse beyond its natural progress by it (aggravation, 3.310(b)).
VA's procedures for these claims are in M21-1 V.ii.2.D. When the evidence for and against is about even, VA must decide in the veteran's favor (38 CFR 3.102).
Other conditions secondary to an ankle condition
Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to other conditions
See all conditions secondary to an ankle condition or back conditions as a primary or secondary condition.
Rules that apply to secondary degenerative arthritis of the spine claims
- 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.ii.2.D
Secondary service connection and aggravation of non-service-connected disabilities
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 4.71a · DC 5242
Schedule of ratings: musculoskeletal system
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.iii.1.B.3
Spine: evaluating manifestations of spine diseases and injuries
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.iii.1.C
Arthritis: degenerative arthritis and separately compensable joints
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.iii.1.A
Painful motion and functional loss (38 CFR 4.59, DeLuca, Mitchell, Correia)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your degenerative arthritis of the spine case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Counts decisions in which the Board decided a degenerative arthritis of the spine issue claimed as secondary to an ankle condition, by the outcome of that issue.
- The primary disability is read from the decision text ("secondary to …") and grouped by name, so spellings such as "PTSD" and "posttraumatic stress disorder" count together.
- Secondary claims also include aggravation of a non-service-connected condition by a service-connected one (38 CFR 3.310(b)).
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.