{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/peripheral-nerve-disorders-secondary-to-back","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:21.207Z","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":"Peripheral nerve disorders secondary to a back condition","secondary_condition":"Peripheral nerve disorders","service_connected_disability":"a back condition","decisions":1228,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":27.4,"denied_pct":23.8,"remanded_pct":49,"granted_on_merits_pct":53.5,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":156,"granted_pct":18.6,"denied_pct":27.6,"remanded_pct":52.6},{"year":2018,"issues":275,"granted_pct":23.6,"denied_pct":29.1,"remanded_pct":46.5},{"year":2019,"issues":218,"granted_pct":26.1,"denied_pct":20.2,"remanded_pct":51.4},{"year":2020,"issues":196,"granted_pct":21.4,"denied_pct":28.6,"remanded_pct":49},{"year":2021,"issues":182,"granted_pct":23.1,"denied_pct":21.4,"remanded_pct":55.5},{"year":2022,"issues":196,"granted_pct":18.9,"denied_pct":17.9,"remanded_pct":63.3},{"year":2023,"issues":182,"granted_pct":30.8,"denied_pct":19.2,"remanded_pct":47.3},{"year":2024,"issues":178,"granted_pct":36.5,"denied_pct":13.5,"remanded_pct":49.4},{"year":2025,"issues":204,"granted_pct":35.8,"denied_pct":24,"remanded_pct":38.2},{"year":2026,"issues":64,"granted_pct":48.4,"denied_pct":20.3,"remanded_pct":29.7}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":71.1,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":187,"granted_pct_with":80.4,"granted_pct_without":45.2},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":942,"granted_pct_with":49,"granted_pct_without":72.5},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":247,"granted_pct_with":82.6,"granted_pct_without":41.4},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":706,"granted_pct_with":43.9,"granted_pct_without":67.3},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":420,"granted_pct_with":63.9,"granted_pct_without":45.7},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":79,"granted_pct_with":66.7,"granted_pct_without":52},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":971,"granted_pct_with":49.7,"granted_pct_without":70.8},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":44,"granted_pct_with":48.3,"granted_pct_without":53.8},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":74,"granted_pct_with":50,"granted_pct_without":53.7}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":107},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":49},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":40},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":7},{"reason":"secondary service connection granted","decisions":5},{"reason":"secondary service connection warranted","decisions":4}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":58},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":28},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":26},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":26},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":21},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":19}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26034214","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL A. HERMAN","rationale":"Secondary to service-connected low back condition; VA examinations noted radiculopathy; Private opinion linked to service"},{"case_id":"A26032320","year":2026,"judge":"JENNIFER WHITE","rationale":"Secondary service connection granted; Caused by service-connected lumbar spine disability; August 2024 VA examination confirmed nexus"},{"case_id":"A26031531","year":2026,"judge":"B.T. KNOPE","rationale":"Veteran's credible assertions supported by private medical opinion; Private opinion confirmed current diagnosis and secondary relationship; Conflicting VA exam findings created relative equipoise; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26028413","year":2026,"judge":"PAULETTE VANCE BURTON","rationale":"No current diagnosis of RLE radiculopathy; VA examinations showed no evidence of radiculopathy; Veteran's statements lacked credibility"},{"case_id":"A26026821","year":2026,"judge":"B. MULLINS","rationale":"Current disability confirmed (right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy); Service-connected disability established (low back syndrome with degenerative disc disease L4-5); Evidence persuasively weighs against nexus to service-connected low back condition; VA examiner opined it was anatomically imp… [truncated, 114 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26026186","year":2026,"judge":"A. C. MACKENZIE","rationale":"Veteran not service connected for thoracolumbar spine disability; No continuity of symptomatology since service; Lay contentions lack probative value for etiology"}]},"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":1851,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":322,"granted_pct":6.2},"causation_only":{"issues":1529,"granted_pct":31.2},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":1.9,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":14,"granted_pct":50,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25091565","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Veteran reported more severe pain in right leg"},{"case_id":"A22007948","year":2022,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The veteran claimed this condition was due to a service-connected lumbar strain and also arose from an in-service injury with ongoing pain."}]},{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":12,"granted_pct":0,"examples":[{"case_id":"19121643","year":2019,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Obesity not established as caused by service-connected lumbar spine disability"}]}]},"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."}}