VA appeal outcomes by condition
Pick a condition to see how VA appeals for it actually turn out — grant, remand and denial rates, what tends to win, and real Board of Veterans’ Appeals decisions. Every number is drawn from public Board decisions, not opinion.
Other
Muscles, bones & joints
- Back / lumbar spine75,737 decisions · 57% granted or remanded
- Knee60,317 decisions · 56% granted or remanded
- Shoulder23,649 decisions · 54% granted or remanded
- Neck / cervical spine19,118 decisions · 57% granted or remanded
- Ankle18,934 decisions · 54% granted or remanded
- Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis)18,430 decisions · 57% granted or remanded
- Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet)14,912 decisions · 54% granted or remanded
- Wrist & hand9,698 decisions · 51% granted or remanded
- Hip6,524 decisions · 58% granted or remanded
Mental health
- PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)65,723 decisions · 60% granted or remanded
- Acquired psychiatric disorder26,685 decisions · 58% granted or remanded
- Depression25,556 decisions · 63% granted or remanded
- Anxiety13,211 decisions · 63% granted or remanded
- Bipolar disorder3,387 decisions · 64% granted or remanded
Hearing & ears
Breathing & lungs
- Sleep apnea36,052 decisions · 62% granted or remanded
- Sinusitis11,370 decisions · 46% granted or remanded
- COPD6,937 decisions · 51% granted or remanded
- Allergic rhinitis6,068 decisions · 45% granted or remanded
- Asthma5,966 decisions · 55% granted or remanded
- Chronic bronchitis2,681 decisions · 46% granted or remanded
- Asbestosis2,094 decisions · 52% granted or remanded
- Tuberculosis1,288 decisions · 31% granted or remanded
- Sarcoidosis1,023 decisions · 56% granted or remanded
Heart & circulation
Brain & nerves
Hormones & metabolism
Skin
Other conditions
Digestive
- GERD (acid reflux)10,144 decisions · 57% granted or remanded
- Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis)5,620 decisions · 48% granted or remanded
- IBS & irritable bowel4,504 decisions · 52% granted or remanded
- Hepatitis C3,757 decisions · 51% granted or remanded
- Hemorrhoids3,456 decisions · 47% granted or remanded
Kidney & urinary
Cancers
Ears & hearing
Brain & nervous system
Eyes & vision
Immune & autoimmune
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.