{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/ulnar-nerve-paralysis-secondary-to-neck","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:23.891Z","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":"Ulnar nerve paralysis secondary to a neck (cervical spine) condition","secondary_condition":"Ulnar nerve paralysis","service_connected_disability":"a neck (cervical spine) condition","decisions":669,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":40.2,"denied_pct":15.5,"remanded_pct":43.6,"granted_on_merits_pct":72.1,"by_year":[{"year":2018,"issues":29,"granted_pct":27.6,"denied_pct":17.2,"remanded_pct":51.7},{"year":2019,"issues":65,"granted_pct":16.9,"denied_pct":27.7,"remanded_pct":55.4},{"year":2020,"issues":100,"granted_pct":38,"denied_pct":22,"remanded_pct":39},{"year":2021,"issues":92,"granted_pct":39.1,"denied_pct":16.3,"remanded_pct":44.6},{"year":2022,"issues":121,"granted_pct":41.3,"denied_pct":9.9,"remanded_pct":47.9},{"year":2023,"issues":132,"granted_pct":34.8,"denied_pct":17.4,"remanded_pct":47.7},{"year":2024,"issues":166,"granted_pct":46.4,"denied_pct":10.8,"remanded_pct":41.6},{"year":2025,"issues":158,"granted_pct":48.1,"denied_pct":10.1,"remanded_pct":40.5},{"year":2026,"issues":79,"granted_pct":59.5,"denied_pct":15.2,"remanded_pct":25.3}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":70.3,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":118,"granted_pct_with":88.5,"granted_pct_without":66.4},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":532,"granted_pct_with":70.8,"granted_pct_without":77.9},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":218,"granted_pct_with":91,"granted_pct_without":54.9},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":392,"granted_pct_with":69.3,"granted_pct_without":76.6},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":283,"granted_pct_with":81,"granted_pct_without":62.4},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":53,"granted_pct_with":88.9,"granted_pct_without":69.8},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":563,"granted_pct_with":71.7,"granted_pct_without":75},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":41,"granted_pct_with":82.6,"granted_pct_without":71.4}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":106},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":38},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":19},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":9},{"reason":"secondary service connection criteria met","decisions":6},{"reason":"criteria for secondary service connection met","decisions":5}],"denied":[{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":11},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":10},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":6},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":5},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":5},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":5}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040926","year":2026,"judge":"ANTHONY C. SCIRÉ, JR","rationale":"Secondary service connection established; Caused by cervical spine disability; Benefit of doubt resolved in Veteran's favor"},{"case_id":"A26039159","year":2026,"judge":"MARTIN B. PETERS","rationale":"Secondary service connection criteria met.; Secondary to cervical spine arthritis."},{"case_id":"A26034486","year":2026,"judge":"MELANIE J. MANN","rationale":"Current disability conceded by AOJ.; AOJ favorably conceded left upper extremity radiculopathy due to service-connected cervical degenerative arthritis.; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26032197","year":2026,"judge":"M. DONOHUE","rationale":"No current diagnosis of radiculopathy; VA examination showed no radicular pain or symptoms; Veteran's lay statements not probative for diagnosis"},{"case_id":"26004240","year":2026,"judge":"KRISTY L. ZADORA","rationale":"Service connection for cervical spine disorder denied.; No legal basis to award secondary service connection without service connection for the primary condition."},{"case_id":"A26028165","year":2026,"judge":"DAVID H. ROBERTSON","rationale":"Service connection for cervical spine denied; No credible evidence of in-service event or injury; No credible evidence of relationship to service-connected disability"}]},"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":953,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":94,"granted_pct":18.1},"causation_only":{"issues":859,"granted_pct":43.5},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":0.3,"pathways":[]},"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."}}