{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/radiculopathy","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:30:13.567Z","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":{"condition":"Radiculopathy","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":4137,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":28,"denied_pct":21.5,"remanded_pct":51.3,"granted_on_merits_pct":56.6,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":215,"granted_pct":11.2,"denied_pct":15.8,"remanded_pct":67.9},{"year":2018,"issues":416,"granted_pct":12.5,"denied_pct":19,"remanded_pct":65.6},{"year":2019,"issues":560,"granted_pct":17.7,"denied_pct":18.4,"remanded_pct":60.4},{"year":2020,"issues":698,"granted_pct":22.1,"denied_pct":23.9,"remanded_pct":51.9},{"year":2021,"issues":692,"granted_pct":26.6,"denied_pct":21.8,"remanded_pct":49.4},{"year":2022,"issues":710,"granted_pct":29,"denied_pct":18.2,"remanded_pct":51.5},{"year":2023,"issues":846,"granted_pct":25.7,"denied_pct":19.7,"remanded_pct":52.8},{"year":2024,"issues":884,"granted_pct":31.6,"denied_pct":22.2,"remanded_pct":44},{"year":2025,"issues":1080,"granted_pct":35.6,"denied_pct":21.5,"remanded_pct":40.2},{"year":2026,"issues":364,"granted_pct":49.7,"denied_pct":17.6,"remanded_pct":30.8}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":66.2,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":618,"granted_pct_with":74,"granted_pct_without":51.6},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":3114,"granted_pct_with":55.6,"granted_pct_without":61.7},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":759,"granted_pct_with":79.1,"granted_pct_without":47.8},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":1673,"granted_pct_with":55.8,"granted_pct_without":57.3},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":1436,"granted_pct_with":66.4,"granted_pct_without":48.7},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":233,"granted_pct_with":74.3,"granted_pct_without":55.3},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":3296,"granted_pct_with":57,"granted_pct_without":53.8},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":106,"granted_pct_with":75,"granted_pct_without":55.9},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":167,"granted_pct_with":69.1,"granted_pct_without":55.9}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":303},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":131},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":68},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":13},{"reason":"criteria for secondary service connection met","decisions":10},{"reason":"secondary service connection criteria met","decisions":10}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":71},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":50},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":40},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":39},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":37},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":27}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040838","year":2026,"judge":"HARVEY P. ROBERTS","rationale":"Service connection for low back disability established by AOJ; VA examination found radiculopathy related to low back disability; Secondary service connection criteria met"},{"case_id":"A26040095","year":2026,"judge":"BETHANY L. BUCK","rationale":"Current diagnosis of radiculopathy; Primary lumbar spine condition is service-connected; Medically related to lumbar spine disability"},{"case_id":"A26040034","year":2026,"judge":"J. PARKER","rationale":"Current diagnosis of LLE radiculopathy; Evidence in relative equipoise; Resolving doubt in veteran's favor; Lumbosacral strain identified as likely cause"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26005099","year":2026,"judge":"PAULETTE VANCE BURTON","rationale":"No current radiculopathy diagnosed; Evidence supports neuropathy, not radiculopathy; EMG study did not find radiculopathy"},{"case_id":"A26039462","year":2026,"judge":"SHAUN S. SPERANZA","rationale":"Service treatment records negative for radiculopathy symptoms.; First complaints of radiculopathy symptoms occurred many years after service.; Veteran's reports of in-service injury causing radiculopathy were found not credible."},{"case_id":"A26039796","year":2026,"judge":"JOHN Z. JONES","rationale":"No competent evidence of LLE radiculopathy diagnosis; VA exam did not find radiculopathy; Private opinion addressed only RLE radiculopathy"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}