BVA decisions by condition
Paralysis of sciatic nerve: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a paralysis of sciatic nerve issue in 6,181 decisions. It granted the paralysis of sciatic nerve issue in 43.9% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 59.0%, and remanded it in 5.6%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 42.7% were granted.
Decisions
6,181
2017–2026
Granted
43.9%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
42.7%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
5.6%
Denied: 59.0%
Paralysis of sciatic nerve outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 303 | 33.3% | 61.1% | 3.0% |
| 2018 | 425 | 43.1% | 59.1% | 4.5% |
| 2019 | 496 | 41.3% | 64.1% | 5.0% |
| 2020 | 687 | 45.0% | 62.6% | 4.2% |
| 2021 | 723 | 39.8% | 63.2% | 5.3% |
| 2022 | 608 | 43.4% | 61.0% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 760 | 45.8% | 58.8% | 6.2% |
| 2024 | 904 | 46.2% | 57.9% | 6.4% |
| 2025 | 951 | 46.2% | 53.8% | 6.6% |
| 2026 | 324 | 49.7% | 47.2% | 8.6% |
Evidence in granted and denied paralysis of sciatic nerve decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the paralysis of sciatic 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favorable VA exam | 1,320 | 57.1% | 38.5% | +18.5 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 415 | 57.8% | 41.7% | +16.1 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 426 | 52.1% | 42.0% | +10.1 pts |
| Positive nexus opinion | 622 | 47.1% | 42.2% | +5.0 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 2,077 | 45.9% | 41.1% | +4.8 pts |
| Combat service | 185 | 39.5% | 42.8% | −3.3 pts |
| Lay statement | 5,167 | 42.1% | 45.6% | −3.4 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 54.7% of the decisions that granted paralysis of sciatic nerve.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 19.6% of grants and 12.7% 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 sciatic 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 | 1,493 | 38.0% | 44.2% | −6.2 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 5,354 | 41.3% | 52.2% | −11.0 pts |
Paralysis of sciatic nerve claimed as a secondary condition
Decisions where paralysis of sciatic nerve was claimed as secondary to another service-connected disability (38 CFR 3.310), by that disability.
Why the Board granted or denied paralysis of sciatic nerve
Most common reasons in grants
- Moderate incomplete paralysis of sciatic nerve102
- Caused by the service-connected disability58
- Moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve41
- Moderately severe incomplete paralysis of sciatic nerve30
- Symptoms approximated moderate incomplete paralysis29
- Moderately severe incomplete paralysis28
- Evidence supports moderate incomplete paralysis27
- Mild incomplete paralysis of sciatic nerve26
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim248
- Did not meet criteria for higher rating32
- Mild incomplete paralysis of sciatic nerve26
- Moderate incomplete paralysis of sciatic nerve26
- Evidence weighed against higher rating26
- Criteria for higher rating not met23
- Normal muscle strength and reflexes21
- Symptoms consistent with moderate incomplete paralysis17
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 sciatic nerve decisions
Granted
Reduction improper due to lack of actual improvement; Single VA exam inadequate; Findings consistent with prior examinations
Criteria for 40% rating met; Moderately severe incomplete paralysis of left lower extremity (sciatic nerve)
VA examination showed moderate incomplete paralysis; Veteran testimony indicated severe pain, numbness, and reliance on walker; Evidence supports 40% rating for moderately severe incomplete paralysis
Denied
Evidence indicates mild incomplete paralysis of the left sciatic nerve.; Symptoms limited to sensory deficits, less persistent or smaller area than 'moderate' disability.; VA examinations found no more than mild symptoms.
Evidence indicates only mild incomplete paralysis; Absence of non-sensory symptoms (atrophy, significant motor/reflex impairment); Symptoms did not represent most significant cases of sensory impairment
Wholly sensory in nature; No objective motor impairment; Normal motor strength, reflexes, gait
Rules that apply to paralysis of sciatic 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 sciatic 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 sciatic 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.