{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/radiculopathy-secondary-to-back","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:21.911Z","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":"Radiculopathy secondary to a back condition","secondary_condition":"Radiculopathy","service_connected_disability":"a back condition","decisions":1187,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":49.6,"denied_pct":16,"remanded_pct":34.5,"granted_on_merits_pct":75.6,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":26,"granted_pct":26.9,"denied_pct":26.9,"remanded_pct":46.2},{"year":2018,"issues":60,"granted_pct":25,"denied_pct":23.3,"remanded_pct":48.3},{"year":2019,"issues":120,"granted_pct":29.2,"denied_pct":21.7,"remanded_pct":49.2},{"year":2020,"issues":168,"granted_pct":41.7,"denied_pct":21.4,"remanded_pct":35.7},{"year":2021,"issues":172,"granted_pct":43,"denied_pct":13.4,"remanded_pct":43},{"year":2022,"issues":186,"granted_pct":45.7,"denied_pct":12.9,"remanded_pct":40.3},{"year":2023,"issues":214,"granted_pct":50.9,"denied_pct":16.8,"remanded_pct":31.8},{"year":2024,"issues":277,"granted_pct":53.4,"denied_pct":14.1,"remanded_pct":30.7},{"year":2025,"issues":337,"granted_pct":58.8,"denied_pct":14.5,"remanded_pct":25.8},{"year":2026,"issues":149,"granted_pct":83.2,"denied_pct":6,"remanded_pct":10.7}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":73.9,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":232,"granted_pct_with":84,"granted_pct_without":72.9},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":1012,"granted_pct_with":73.9,"granted_pct_without":88},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":390,"granted_pct_with":89.1,"granted_pct_without":65.7},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":665,"granted_pct_with":70.9,"granted_pct_without":82.7},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":560,"granted_pct_with":81.3,"granted_pct_without":68.2},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":75,"granted_pct_with":94.5,"granted_pct_without":74.2},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1030,"granted_pct_with":74.7,"granted_pct_without":82.4},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":53,"granted_pct_with":82.1,"granted_pct_without":75.3},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":67,"granted_pct_with":83.3,"granted_pct_without":75}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":238},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":85},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":43},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":9},{"reason":"secondary service connection criteria met","decisions":9},{"reason":"criteria for secondary service connection met","decisions":8}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":21},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":19},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":12},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":10},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":8},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":6}]},"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":"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"},{"case_id":"A26039254","year":2026,"judge":"J. PARKER","rationale":"Diagnosed together with back condition; Consistent treatment history with back symptoms; Benefit of doubt resolved in veteran's favor"}],"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":"A26027586","year":2026,"judge":"KRISTY L. ZADORA","rationale":"No current diagnosis of right upper extremity radiculopathy during appeal period; Service treatment records negative for radiculopathy complaints; Private and VA examinations did not diagnose right upper extremity radiculopathy"}]},"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":1709,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":131,"granted_pct":20.6},"causation_only":{"issues":1578,"granted_pct":53.1},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":1.3,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":15,"granted_pct":93.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26039375","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"VA examiner opined at least as likely as not that radiculopathy is proximately due to low back pain."}]}]},"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."}}