Radiculopathy grants at the Board doubled from 2018 as remands fell

The Board of Veterans' Appeals granted radiculopathy claims in 34.5% of its decisions in 2024 and 2025, up from 16.2% in 2018 and 2019. The grant share rose 18.4 percentage points over that span, while the share of cases sent back for more development fell.

The figures come from 4,137 Board decisions on radiculopathy from 2017 to 2026. Across all years, the Board granted 28.0%, denied 21.5% and remanded 51.3%. Leaving remands out, it granted 56.6% of the claims it decided on the merits.

Share of decisions each year. 2026 is a partial year.

Fewer remands, more grants on the merits

Remands once dominated these appeals. In 2017 the Board remanded 66.3% of radiculopathy decisions and granted 12.5%. By 2025, remands were down to 41.7% and grants were up to 35.4%.

The climb was not a straight line. Grants reached 29.7% in 2022, dipped to 26.8% in 2023, then rose to 33.5% in 2024. In 2026 so far, the Board has granted 52.1% and remanded 31.3%, though a partial year may not hold.

The rise is not only a matter of fewer remands. When the Board reached the merits, it granted 44.4% of claims in 2018 and 2019 and 60.6% in 2024 and 2025. The data does not show why either shift happened.

Secondary claims and medical opinions

The sharpest split in the record is how the claim was framed. Radiculopathy claimed as secondary to a service-connected disability under 38 CFR 3.310 was granted on the merits in 73.0% of decisions, compared with 39.2% for claims not made that way.

The Board's stated reasons line up with that. The most common reason in grants was "caused by the service-connected disability," cited in 303 grants, well ahead of "current diagnosis established" (131) and "service connection established" (68).

Favorable medical evidence tracked with higher grant rates. With a positive nexus opinion in the record, the merits grant rate was 79.1%; without one, 47.8%. A treating physician's opinion went with 74.3%, against 55.3% without. A favorable VA exam went with 74.0%, against 51.6%. A private medical opinion went with 66.4%, against 48.7%.

In the recordNot in the record

Claimed as secondary

73.0%

39.2%

Positive nexus opinion

79.1%

47.8%

Favorable VA exam

74.0%

51.6%

Buddy statement

75.0%

55.9%

Merits decisions only (granted or denied). Associations, not causes.

A negative nexus opinion made little difference by comparison: 55.8% with one, 57.3% without. Buddy statements went with 75.0%, against 55.9%.

These are associations, not causes. A record with a supportive opinion may be stronger in other ways too. The Board applied the benefit of the doubt under 38 CFR 3.102 in 66.2% of grants, which suggests many of these records were close.

Why claims are denied

The leading reason in denials was "no current diagnosis," cited in 71 denials. Next came "no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis" (50) and "preponderance of the evidence against the claim" (40).

The first two reasons address the basic elements of service connection, a diagnosis and an in-service event, rather than disputes between competing opinions.

Read the decisions

Recent examples, with the Board's reasons as summarized by AI:

• A26040838, granted in 2026: service connection for low back disability established by AOJ.
• A26040095, granted in 2026: current diagnosis of radiculopathy.
• A26040034, granted in 2026: current diagnosis of LLE radiculopathy.
• 26005099, denied in 2026: no current radiculopathy diagnosed.
• A26039462, denied in 2026: service treatment records negative for radiculopathy symptoms.
• A26039796, denied in 2026: no competent evidence of LLE radiculopathy diagnosis.

For representatives

• Claims framed as secondary under 38 CFR 3.310 were granted on the merits at 73.0%, against 39.2% otherwise. Check whether the record supports that theory before relying on direct service connection.
• "No current diagnosis" was the most cited denial reason. Confirm the record contains a clear radiculopathy diagnosis, not only symptoms.
• A positive nexus opinion went with a merits grant rate of 79.1%, and a treating physician's opinion with 74.3%.