VA Law Explorer
BVA decisions by condition
BVA grant rates by condition
How often the Board of Veterans' Appeals granted, denied or remanded each of the most-appealed VA disability conditions, measured on the outcome of that condition's issue in each decision.
| Condition | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee impairment | 85,401 | 19.6% | 31.6% | 53.8% | Research |
| Hearing loss | 85,272 | 20.6% | 45.0% | 35.8% | Research |
| Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | 74,904 | 30.5% | 27.7% | 39.2% | Research |
| Tinnitus | 60,461 | 41.4% | 25.7% | 22.9% | Research |
| Sleep apnea syndromes (obstructive central mixed) | 57,561 | 26.7% | 21.4% | 50.5% | Research |
| Degenerative arthritis of the spine (spondylosis) | 53,845 | 21.8% | 30.9% | 47.2% | Research |
| Hypertension | 49,650 | 18.3% | 31.5% | 49.6% | Research |
| Intervertebral disc syndrome | 42,065 | 19.6% | 30.0% | 50.1% | Research |
| Migraine | 37,003 | 31.3% | 24.7% | 43.0% | Research |
| Shoulder impairment | 31,511 | 15.5% | 31.7% | 53.5% | Research |
| Diabetes mellitus | 28,083 | 20.8% | 37.1% | 40.9% | Research |
| Ankle impairment | 24,512 | 18.2% | 32.0% | 51.1% | Research |
| Hip impairment | 21,953 | 16.2% | 30.3% | 55.5% | Research |
| Major depressive disorder | 21,389 | 36.4% | 26.6% | 34.6% | Research |
| Cervical spine limitation of motion | 20,040 | 13.6% | 26.4% | 58.9% | Research |
| Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) | 16,542 | 20.0% | 24.8% | 53.3% | Research |
| Erectile dysfunction | 16,441 | 17.5% | 29.5% | 50.8% | Research |
| Peripheral nerve disorders | 15,180 | 21.5% | 27.1% | 53.0% | Research |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | 12,249 | 12.4% | 33.1% | 53.3% | Research |
| Flatfoot bilateral acquired | 12,139 | 20.9% | 30.7% | 47.2% | Research |
| Paralysis of sciatic nerve or external popliteal nerve | 12,134 | 23.4% | 26.8% | 50.8% | Research |
| Anxiety disorder | 12,019 | 21.1% | 25.6% | 50.5% | Research |
| Thoracolumbar or lumbar spine limitation of motion | 11,693 | 9.6% | 19.3% | 70.2% | Research |
| Dermatitis or eczema | 11,612 | 17.5% | 34.9% | 47.4% | Research |
| Foot impairment | 11,438 | 11.1% | 26.7% | 62.0% | Research |
| Arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) | 11,135 | 28.6% | 34.8% | 35.4% | Research |
| Osteoarthritis | 10,500 | 19.8% | 34.4% | 46.0% | Research |
| Psychosis | 7,802 | 11.0% | 21.5% | 65.7% | Research |
| Chronic sinusitis | 7,670 | 18.9% | 29.6% | 50.0% | Research |
| Prostate malignant neoplasm | 7,551 | 31.4% | 30.5% | 37.4% | Research |
| Scars other not of head face or neck | 7,543 | 15.3% | 51.7% | 33.5% | Research |
| Kidney disease | 6,733 | 17.9% | 34.6% | 47.1% | Research |
| Dermatophytosis (ringworm) | 6,671 | 16.2% | 29.5% | 53.2% | Research |
| Wrist impairment | 6,618 | 12.6% | 36.0% | 51.6% | Research |
| Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis | 6,544 | 18.9% | 41.7% | 38.8% | Research |
| Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) | 6,464 | 25.7% | 26.5% | 45.8% | Research |
| Plantar fasciitis | 6,052 | 23.7% | 26.5% | 49.9% | Research |
| Ulnar nerve paralysis | 5,996 | 19.1% | 21.0% | 59.2% | Research |
| Paralysis of sciatic nerve | 5,878 | 44.5% | 58.9% | 5.8% | Research |
| Malignant skin neoplasms (other than malignant melanoma) | 5,516 | 19.6% | 28.0% | 51.5% | Research |
| Residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) | 5,440 | 14.1% | 33.1% | 51.7% | Research |
| PTSD due to combat | 5,395 | 32.7% | 55.9% | 13.2% | Research |
| Median nerve paralysis | 5,293 | 18.3% | 32.5% | 49.6% | Research |
| Elbow impairment | 5,263 | 15.3% | 34.0% | 52.5% | Research |
| Hand impairment | 4,920 | 9.6% | 31.1% | 59.1% | Research |
| Adjustment disorder | 4,881 | 23.7% | 27.2% | 47.2% | Research |
| Malignant neoplasms of the digestive system | 4,726 | 25.7% | 25.9% | 47.3% | Research |
| Peripheral vestibular disorders | 4,585 | 19.7% | 26.6% | 52.5% | Research |
| Bronchial asthma | 4,566 | 21.7% | 29.9% | 47.7% | Research |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome | 4,493 | 9.5% | 40.4% | 48.9% | Research |
| Undiagnosed illnesses | 4,217 | 20.4% | 32.3% | 46.7% | Research |
| Bilateral hearing loss | 4,168 | 0.1% | 9.5% | 85.6% | Research |
| Scar(s) unstable or painful | 4,138 | 26.6% | 47.9% | 26.8% | Research |
| Radiculopathy | 3,977 | 28.6% | 21.6% | 50.7% | Research |
| Sinusitis | 3,959 | 28.1% | 35.7% | 36.2% | Research |
| Fibromyalgia | 3,945 | 16.6% | 29.0% | 53.1% | Research |
| Brain disease due to trauma | 3,876 | 16.0% | 27.5% | 54.7% | Research |
| Others | 3,791 | 38.6% | 23.6% | 37.9% | Research |
| Scars other of head face or neck | 3,446 | 23.5% | 33.2% | 42.2% | Research |
| Lumbosacral strain | 3,417 | 28.5% | 35.6% | 35.4% | Research |
| Hypothyroidism | 3,333 | 23.8% | 27.7% | 46.8% | Research |
| Eye impairment of muscles | 3,329 | 8.8% | 33.4% | 56.9% | Research |
| Hepatitis | 3,315 | 13.8% | 36.5% | 48.1% | Research |
| Depressive disorder | 3,270 | 20.6% | 24.7% | 52.2% | Research |
| Sleep apnea | 3,164 | 0.0% | 7.3% | 89.5% | Research |
| Prostate gland disease | 3,141 | 14.2% | 35.1% | 49.7% | Research |
| Tuberculosis pulmonary chronic | 3,126 | 14.0% | 30.1% | 53.8% | Research |
| Glaucoma | 3,061 | 11.0% | 33.1% | 54.9% | Research |
| Degenerative arthritis | 2,988 | 28.4% | 50.2% | 23.9% | Research |
| Hemorrhoids external or internal | 2,945 | 15.9% | 36.2% | 46.2% | Research |
| Hypertensive heart disease | 2,911 | 15.1% | 27.8% | 55.4% | Research |
| Gout | 2,782 | 12.6% | 31.5% | 55.7% | Research |
| Hallux valgus (bunion) acquired | 2,700 | 17.9% | 32.3% | 48.1% | Research |
| Urinary incontinence | 2,623 | 21.2% | 30.0% | 47.5% | Research |
| Kidney neoplasm of malignant | 2,619 | 24.1% | 22.3% | 52.0% | Research |
| Parkinson's disease | 2,616 | 35.7% | 22.0% | 41.7% | Research |
| Lumbosacral or cervical strain | 2,488 | 24.2% | 34.0% | 41.5% | Research |
| Right knee disability | 2,401 | 0.1% | 7.8% | 89.4% | Research |
| Left knee disability | 2,241 | 0.4% | 7.2% | 89.5% | Research |
| Temporomandibular joint (tmj) disorder | 2,216 | 22.1% | 34.3% | 42.8% | Research |
| Hernia inguinal | 2,210 | 11.2% | 42.8% | 45.4% | Research |
| Teeth loss | 2,199 | 5.4% | 56.3% | 40.1% | Research |
| Asthma | 2,126 | 27.8% | 23.0% | 48.7% | Research |
| Peptic ulcer disease | 2,118 | 14.2% | 34.6% | 48.8% | Research |
| Headaches | 2,081 | 10.7% | 13.8% | 71.6% | Research |
| Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (buerger's disease) | 2,039 | 22.1% | 30.5% | 47.1% | Research |
| Diseases of conjunctiva keratitis and corneal opacities | 2,021 | 13.6% | 39.2% | 46.0% | Research |
| Voiding dysfunction | 1,928 | 29.0% | 43.5% | 27.8% | Research |
| Residuals of encephalitis | 1,874 | 12.0% | 31.1% | 55.3% | Research |
| Residuals of fractures | 1,842 | 12.2% | 22.5% | 64.0% | Research |
| Hiatal hernia | 1,825 | 50.5% | 39.3% | 13.3% | Research |
| Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) | 1,825 | 34.3% | 22.2% | 41.7% | Research |
| Cold injury residuals | 1,792 | 17.0% | 35.9% | 46.9% | Research |
| Asbestosis | 1,734 | 16.9% | 30.5% | 50.9% | Research |
| Peripheral nerve conditions | 1,696 | 22.1% | 33.3% | 47.7% | Research |
| Cataract extraction | 1,653 | 11.3% | 36.9% | 50.0% | Research |
| Ménière's syndrome (ménière's disease) | 1,625 | 26.5% | 24.0% | 48.1% | Research |
| Leukemia | 1,607 | 33.0% | 21.8% | 43.4% | Research |
| Paralysis of femoral nerve | 1,604 | 27.4% | 40.0% | 34.6% | Research |
| Obstructive sleep apnea | 1,569 | 0.2% | 4.2% | 91.0% | Research |
How to read these numbers
- Each rate is the share of decisions in which the Board granted, denied or remanded that condition's issue, even when other issues in the same decision had a different outcome.
- The three rates do not add up to 100%: some issues were dismissed or withdrawn, and a few decisions decided the same condition more than once.
- Covers 100 conditions with at least 500 decisions each (1,116,903 condition decisions), 2018 to today. The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions and can contain errors.
- Research aid, not legal advice. Verify each decision before relying on it.
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