Secondary service connection
Ulnar nerve paralysis secondary to a back condition: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided ulnar nerve paralysis claimed as secondary to a back condition in 631 decisions. It granted the issue in 34.4% of them, above the 19.1% grant rate for all ulnar nerve paralysis issues, denied it in 13.0%, and remanded it in 52.1%. Counting only decisions on the merits, 72.6% were granted.
Decisions
631
2017–2026
Granted
34.4%
All ulnar nerve paralysis: 19.1%
Granted on the merits
72.6%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
52.1%
Denied: 13.0%
See all ulnar nerve paralysis decisions, direct and secondary.
Ulnar nerve paralysis secondary to a back condition: outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 64 | 29.7% | 12.5% | 57.8% | 0.0% |
| 2020 | 102 | 25.5% | 16.7% | 56.9% | 1.0% |
| 2021 | 131 | 26.0% | 10.7% | 63.4% | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 149 | 31.5% | 10.7% | 57.0% | 0.7% |
| 2023 | 142 | 35.2% | 9.9% | 53.5% | 1.4% |
| 2024 | 137 | 40.9% | 13.1% | 45.3% | 0.7% |
| 2025 | 171 | 39.8% | 15.8% | 44.4% | 0.0% |
| 2026 | 55 | 50.9% | 3.6% | 45.5% | 0.0% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 20 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied ulnar nerve paralysis decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the ulnar nerve paralysis issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 172 | 90.7% | 56.6% | +34.1 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 268 | 83.8% | 57.1% | +26.7 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 85 | 91.2% | 67.1% | +24.1 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 43 | 85.3% | 70.9% | +14.4 pts |
| Lay statement | 518 | 72.2% | 75.0% | −2.8 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 71.4% of the decisions that granted ulnar nerve paralysis.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 41.0% of grants and 14.6% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often ulnar nerve paralysis was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfavorable VA exam | 498 | 72.0% | 75.5% | −3.5 pts |
| Negative nexus opinion | 367 | 69.8% | 77.6% | −7.8 pts |
How these claims are argued
A secondary claim says a back condition caused ulnar nerve paralysis or made it worse, and names how. Below: whether the Board's decision discussed aggravation, and the medical link each decision names, with how often those issues were granted.
Aggravation discussed
made worse by the disability, 3.310(b)
4.2%
granted, of 118 issues (12.1% of all)
Causation only
caused by the disability, 3.310(a)
37.9%
granted, of 855 issues (87.9% of all)
Based on words in the AI-written summary and reasons for each issue, not a reading of the full decision. 0.9% of the 973 issues name at least one medical link; the rest only say “secondary to” the disability. One issue can name several links. Granted is the share of those issues granted (remands count as not granted). A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.
Why the Board granted or denied ulnar nerve paralysis
Most common reasons in grants
- Caused by the service-connected disability112
- Current diagnosis established23
- Service connection established12
- Criteria for service connection met5
- Secondary service connection granted3
- Met criteria for secondary service connection2
- Supported by private medical opinion2
- Etiologically related to service-connected low back disability2
Most common reasons in denials
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis12
- No current diagnosis8
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim7
- Service records negative or silent7
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service6
- Service connection established4
- Claimed as secondary to low back disability3
- Current diagnosis established3
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent ulnar nerve paralysis decisions
Granted
Current radiculopathy assessed in VA examinations.; Evidence evenly balanced regarding causation to service-connected lumbar spine condition.; Doubt resolved in Veteran's favor.
Secondary to service-connected back disability; Veteran's assertion found persuasive; VA examiner opined radiculopathy likely due to spinal stenosis/DDD
Secondary to service-connected back disability; Medical opinions related radiculopathy to back
Denied
Claimed as secondary to lumbar spine disability.; Primary claim for lumbar spine disability denied.; No neurologic complaints or symptoms shown in service.
No current diagnosis of upper extremity radiculopathy; No credible evidence of persistent upper extremity symptoms; In-service report of numbness/tingling was generalized and did not involve upper extremities; No post-service medical evidence or lay statements corroborated upper extremity condition
Service connection for back disability not established.; Radiculopathy claimed secondary to back disability.; Board denied claim as a matter of law.
What VA needs to grant a secondary claim
Secondary service connection means VA disability benefits for a condition caused or made worse by a disability that is already service connected (38 CFR 3.310). The claim needs three things:
- A current diagnosis of ulnar nerve paralysis.
- A back condition is already service connected.
- Medical evidence linking them (a nexus opinion): ulnar nerve paralysis was caused by a back condition (3.310(a)), or was made worse beyond its natural progress by it (aggravation, 3.310(b)).
VA's procedures for these claims are in M21-1 V.ii.2.D. When the evidence for and against is about even, VA must decide in the veteran's favor (38 CFR 3.102).
Other conditions secondary to a back condition
- Paralysis of sciatic nerve secondary to a back condition325 decisions · 57.8% granted
- Radiculopathy secondary to a back condition1,181 decisions · 49.9% granted
- Major depressive disorder secondary to a back condition770 decisions · 47.4% granted
- Paralysis of sciatic nerve or external popliteal nerve secondary to a back condition2,436 decisions · 38.7% granted
- Sleep apnea secondary to a back condition1,166 decisions · 38.2% granted
- Peripheral nerve conditions secondary to a back condition307 decisions · 32.2% granted
- Peripheral nerve disorders secondary to a back condition1,204 decisions · 27.8% granted
- Erectile dysfunction secondary to a back condition619 decisions · 27.6% granted
- Degenerative arthritis of the spine secondary to a back condition679 decisions · 23.7% granted
- Urinary incontinence secondary to a back condition408 decisions · 22.8% granted
- Hypertension secondary to a back condition330 decisions · 20.0% granted
- Migraine secondary to a back condition347 decisions · 18.7% granted
- Hip impairment secondary to a back condition1,856 decisions · 13.6% granted
- Knee conditions secondary to a back condition2,083 decisions · 12.3% granted
- Ankle impairment secondary to a back condition322 decisions · 11.2% granted
- Cervical spine limitation of motion secondary to a back condition1,553 decisions · 8.8% granted
- Shoulder impairment secondary to a back condition647 decisions · 7.3% granted
- Foot impairment secondary to a back condition354 decisions · 6.2% granted
Ulnar nerve paralysis secondary to other conditions
See all conditions secondary to a back condition.
Rules that apply to secondary ulnar nerve paralysis claims
- 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.ii.2.D
Secondary service connection and aggravation of non-service-connected disabilities
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your ulnar nerve paralysis case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Counts decisions in which the Board decided a ulnar nerve paralysis issue claimed as secondary to a back condition, by the outcome of that issue.
- The primary disability is read from the decision text ("secondary to …") and grouped by name, so spellings such as "PTSD" and "posttraumatic stress disorder" count together.
- Secondary claims also include aggravation of a non-service-connected condition by a service-connected one (38 CFR 3.310(b)).
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.