C&P Exam for Paralysis of median nerve (DC 8515)

For paralysis of median nerve (DC 8515), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

• DBQ NEURO Peripheral Nerves (public PDF on VA.gov)

DBQs are Department of Veterans Affairs Form 21-0960 series documents. Public DBQs are hosted on benefits.va.gov. A handful are examiner-only and are not posted publicly.

The fields below are reproduced from the DBQ form the examiner completes for this diagnostic code. This is the structural map of the form, showing what the examiner is asked to measure, observe, and record. It is a factual reproduction of the public DBQ, not advice on how to answer.

The following tiers are reproduced from 38 CFR Part 4, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Toggle between the official VA criteria and a Plain English explanation.

Plain-English summaries are AI-generated to explain the official criteria. The official 38 CFR language is the binding legal standard. When in doubt, ask a VSO.

The counts below are aggregated from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code, among issues the Board granted or denied (remanded issues are not included). Each row reports how often a given evidence type was discussed in the decision text, broken down by outcome. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not a prediction or recommendation about any specific claim.

• VA examination: appeared in 3984 granted decisions (7688 denied; 11672 decided total)
• Service treatment records: appeared in 2779 granted decisions (6236 denied; 9015 decided total)
• Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 2034 granted decisions (3697 denied; 5731 decided total)
• Private medical opinion: appeared in 1537 granted decisions (2423 denied; 3960 decided total)
• Nexus letter: appeared in 1084 granted decisions (1032 denied; 2116 decided total)
• Medical literature: appeared in 280 granted decisions (410 denied; 690 decided total)

The themes below were extracted by clustering 500 grant-factor sentences from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Frequencies indicate how often each theme appeared in the sample. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not advice or strategy for any specific claim.

1. 24% Benefit of doubt doctrine applicability noted in decision
   The Board noted consideration or application of the benefit of the doubt doctrine, citing the statutory standard that approximate balance of positive and negative evidence entitles the claimant to a favorable resolution.
   118 of 500 sample sentences
2. 17% Examiner opined disability at least as likely as not related to service
   A VA or private examiner provided a positive nexus opinion stating that a current disability was at least as likely as not incurred in, caused by, or related to active military service or a service-connected condition.
   83 of 500 sample sentences
3. 14% Preponderance of evidence against claim, doctrine inapplicable
   The Board found that the weight of evidence persuasively favored denial, making the benefit of the doubt doctrine inapplicable and resulting in denial of the claim.
   72 of 500 sample sentences
4. 12% Evidence in equipoise, benefit of doubt resolved in veteran's favor
   The Board found the evidence at least in relative equipoise and resolved the benefit of the doubt in favor of the veteran, granting service connection or an increased rating.
   62 of 500 sample sentences
5. 4% Severity of paralysis or neuropathy finding recorded
   The Board or examiner recorded a specific finding as to the degree of incomplete paralysis or neuropathy severity — mild, moderate, moderately severe, or severe — for rating purposes under the applicable diagnostic code.
   22 of 500 sample sentences
6. 4% Secondary service connection nexus opinion documented
   An examiner opined that a current disability was at least as likely as not proximately due to, caused by, or aggravated by a service-connected condition, supporting secondary service connection.
   21 of 500 sample sentences
7. 2% Examiner nexus opinion found negative or less likely than not
   A VA or private examiner provided a negative nexus opinion, finding the claimed condition was not at least as likely as not related to service or a service-connected disability.
   12 of 500 sample sentences
8. 1% Evidence supported specific disability rating assignment
   The Board found that the medical and lay evidence of record supported assignment of a particular schedular disability rating percentage for the veteran's condition.
   7 of 500 sample sentences
9. 0% Carpal tunnel syndrome service connection or rating granted
   The Board cited evidence in the record establishing service connection or an increased rating for bilateral or unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, often applying the benefit of the doubt doctrine.
   1 of 500 sample sentences