BVA decisions by condition
Paralysis of femoral nerve: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a paralysis of femoral nerve issue in 1,621 decisions. It granted the paralysis of femoral nerve issue in 27.3% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 40.0%, and remanded it in 34.8%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 40.6% were granted.
Decisions
1,621
2017–2026
Granted
27.3%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
40.6%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
34.8%
Denied: 40.0%
Paralysis of femoral nerve outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 74 | 28.4% | 29.7% | 45.9% |
| 2020 | 141 | 29.1% | 46.8% | 24.8% |
| 2021 | 204 | 24.0% | 42.2% | 38.2% |
| 2022 | 218 | 26.1% | 43.1% | 32.6% |
| 2023 | 277 | 26.7% | 43.3% | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 253 | 26.9% | 36.8% | 36.8% |
| 2025 | 275 | 28.7% | 40.0% | 32.7% |
| 2026 | 119 | 36.1% | 36.1% | 30.3% |
Evidence in granted and denied paralysis of femoral nerve decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the paralysis of femoral nerve 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claimed as secondary | 122 | 64.6% | 38.7% | +25.9 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 232 | 59.8% | 36.3% | +23.5 pts |
| Positive nexus opinion | 142 | 57.9% | 38.5% | +19.4 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 432 | 45.7% | 38.3% | +7.4 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 85 | 44.4% | 40.3% | +4.1 pts |
| Lay statement | 1,159 | 40.1% | 41.9% | −1.8 pts |
| Combat service | 42 | 34.4% | 40.7% | −6.4 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 48.9% of the decisions that granted paralysis of femoral nerve.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 16.7% of grants and 11.6% 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 paralysis of femoral nerve 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 368 | 38.0% | 41.4% | −3.5 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 1,215 | 39.0% | 46.4% | −7.4 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied paralysis of femoral nerve
Most common reasons in grants
- Caused by the service-connected disability19
- Moderate incomplete paralysis of femoral nerve15
- Moderate incomplete paralysis9
- Criteria for 30 percent rating met9
- Symptoms approximated moderate incomplete paralysis7
- 20 percent rating granted6
- Criteria for 20% rating met6
- Mild incomplete paralysis of femoral nerve6
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim26
- Criteria for higher rating not met12
- Criteria for increased rating not met11
- Did not meet criteria for higher rating10
- Moderate incomplete paralysis of femoral nerve9
- Criteria for rating in excess of 10 percent not met8
- Moderate incomplete paralysis7
- Criteria for rating in excess of 20 percent not met6
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 paralysis of femoral nerve decisions
Granted
Criteria for 30% rating met; Severe incomplete paralysis of left lower extremity (femoral nerve)
Reduction improper due to lack of actual improvement; Single VA exam inadequate; Findings consistent with prior examinations
Moderate incomplete paralysis warranted based on pain and mild sensory deficits; Increased rating from 10% to 20% granted
Denied
Criteria for higher than 30% not met; Symptoms did not approximate complete paralysis
Objective evidence consistently showed mild incomplete paralysis prior to Oct 29, 2025.; Objective evidence consistently showed severe incomplete paralysis from Oct 29, 2025.; These levels did not warrant higher ratings.
Failure to continuously pursue claim; Prior decision became final; Evidence weighs against earlier effective date
Rules that apply to paralysis of femoral nerve claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your paralysis of femoral nerve case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a paralysis of femoral nerve issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- 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.