{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/paralysis-of-sciatic-nerve-or-external-popliteal-nerve-secondary-to-back","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:31.497Z","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":{"claim":"Paralysis of sciatic nerve or external popliteal nerve secondary to a back condition","secondary_condition":"Paralysis of sciatic nerve or external popliteal nerve","service_connected_disability":"a back condition","decisions":2448,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":38.6,"denied_pct":16.2,"remanded_pct":45.5,"granted_on_merits_pct":70.5,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":86,"granted_pct":16.3,"denied_pct":27.9,"remanded_pct":54.7},{"year":2018,"issues":199,"granted_pct":30.7,"denied_pct":10.1,"remanded_pct":56.3},{"year":2019,"issues":339,"granted_pct":25.4,"denied_pct":21.5,"remanded_pct":52.8},{"year":2020,"issues":379,"granted_pct":29,"denied_pct":22.4,"remanded_pct":47.8},{"year":2021,"issues":321,"granted_pct":32.7,"denied_pct":17.4,"remanded_pct":49.5},{"year":2022,"issues":390,"granted_pct":36.2,"denied_pct":12.8,"remanded_pct":50},{"year":2023,"issues":483,"granted_pct":35.6,"denied_pct":13.5,"remanded_pct":49.3},{"year":2024,"issues":518,"granted_pct":41.9,"denied_pct":12.9,"remanded_pct":45},{"year":2025,"issues":577,"granted_pct":52.5,"denied_pct":13.3,"remanded_pct":33.8},{"year":2026,"issues":237,"granted_pct":63.7,"denied_pct":11,"remanded_pct":23.6}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":70.4,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":418,"granted_pct_with":89.2,"granted_pct_without":64.3},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":1899,"granted_pct_with":69.2,"granted_pct_without":76.3},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":663,"granted_pct_with":92.3,"granted_pct_without":56.2},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":1318,"granted_pct_with":68.2,"granted_pct_without":73.8},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":1071,"granted_pct_with":77.7,"granted_pct_without":62},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":181,"granted_pct_with":86.9,"granted_pct_without":68.7},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":2070,"granted_pct_with":69.6,"granted_pct_without":76.1},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":122,"granted_pct_with":75.6,"granted_pct_without":70.1},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":116,"granted_pct_with":74,"granted_pct_without":70.3}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":360},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":128},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":66},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":23},{"reason":"criteria for secondary service connection met","decisions":16},{"reason":"secondary to lumbar spine disability","decisions":13}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":43},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":25},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":24},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":20},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":19},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":9}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040468","year":2026,"judge":"FREDERIC P. GALLUN","rationale":"Secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability; VA examiner noted relation to lumbar spine degenerative changes; Benefit of the doubt doctrine applied"},{"case_id":"A26040500","year":2026,"judge":"GAYLE STROMMEN","rationale":"No dispute of current disability.; Service-connected low back disability established.; Nexus between low back disability and radiculopathy is established."},{"case_id":"A26040926","year":2026,"judge":"ANTHONY C. SCIRÉ, JR","rationale":"Secondary service connection established; Caused by lumbar spine disability; Benefit of doubt resolved in Veteran's favor"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26041005","year":2026,"judge":"J.P. NORMAN","rationale":"Primary condition (lumbar spine) not service-connected.; Secondary service connection requires a service-connected primary condition.; No nexus established for primary condition."},{"case_id":"A26038152","year":2026,"judge":"ANN K. MINAMI","rationale":"No current diagnosis of bilateral lower extremity sciatica; Insufficient evidence to establish service connection; Weight of evidence against the claim"},{"case_id":"26004679","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL SORISIO","rationale":"Primary lumbar spine condition not service-connected.; Secondary claim denied as a matter of law.; Direct service connection for sciatic nerve condition not raised."}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":3529,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":297,"granted_pct":13.5},"causation_only":{"issues":3232,"granted_pct":40.8},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":1.9,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":35,"granted_pct":54.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"25007909","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Veteran reported severe pain and paresthesias in the right leg"},{"case_id":"23062366","year":2023,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Evidence showed severe pain, paresthesias, and numbness in the left lower extremity.."}]},{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":22,"granted_pct":31.8,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26019534","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Evidence in approximate balance (equipoise) favoring the Veteran.."},{"case_id":"24012497","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The Board found the evidence persuasively favored the conclusion that it was less likely than not related to service or a service-connected condition."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}