BVA decisions by condition
Peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity issue in 617 decisions. It granted the peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity issue in 21.9% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 22.5%, and remanded it in 57.2%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 49.3% were granted.
Decisions
617
2017–2026
Granted
21.9%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
49.3%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
57.2%
Denied: 22.5%
Peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 142 | 6.3% | 30.3% | 59.9% | 3.5% |
| 2019 | 160 | 17.5% | 19.4% | 58.8% | 4.4% |
| 2020 | 112 | 17.0% | 23.2% | 58.0% | 1.8% |
| 2021 | 120 | 16.7% | 23.3% | 58.3% | 1.7% |
| 2022 | 127 | 26.0% | 20.5% | 52.8% | 0.8% |
| 2023 | 152 | 15.1% | 23.0% | 58.6% | 3.3% |
| 2024 | 155 | 29.0% | 26.5% | 42.6% | 1.9% |
| 2025 | 110 | 27.3% | 33.6% | 37.3% | 1.8% |
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 Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome.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 50 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity 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 | 57 | 92.1% | 42.4% | +49.7 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 58 | 80.0% | 42.4% | +37.6 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 165 | 74.7% | 39.7% | +35.0 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 167 | 55.2% | 45.6% | +9.7 pts |
| Lay statement | 402 | 49.0% | 50.0% | −1.0 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 59.3% of the decisions that granted peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 22.2% of grants and 5.8% 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 peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity 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 | 145 | 49.3% | 49.2% | +0.1 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 342 | 46.1% | 58.6% | −12.5 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity
Most common reasons in grants
- Caused by the service-connected disability20
- Current diagnosis established13
- Service connection established8
- New and material evidence received to reopen claim2
- Credible lay testimony regarding symptoms since service2
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim10
- No current diagnosis7
- Service records negative or silent5
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis5
- Current diagnosis established4
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service4
- No continuity of symptomatology4
- Criteria for rating in excess of 10 percent not met3
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 peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity decisions
Granted
Existence of service-connected DM established; Existence of neuropathy found; At least as likely as not that neuropathy would not exist but for DM
Veteran continuously reported radiating left lower extremity pain.; Resolving all reasonable doubt in Veteran's favor.; VA examinations noted pain radiating down left leg.; Medical literature and history support multifactorial diagnosis.
May 2024 VA examination diagnosed moderately severe incomplete paralysis.; April 2025 VA examination excluded diabetic peripheral neuropathy, offering no probative value.; No evidence established marked muscular atrophy or complete paralysis.
Denied
No current diagnosis of right lower extremity radiculopathy; Service treatment records and post-service records are silent for radiculopathy; VA examination found no objective signs of radiculopathy
Underlying back condition not service-connected.; VA opinion found less likely than not related to service.; No direct service connection for radiculopathy.
Evidence insufficient for severe incomplete paralysis; Consistent findings of 5/5 motor strength; Symptoms primarily sensory, rated mild or moderate
Rules that apply to peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a peripheral nerve disorders of the lower extremity issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- 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.