C&P Exam for Neuritis of anterior tibial nerve (DC 8623)

For neuritis of anterior tibial nerve (DC 8623), 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 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. 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 11 granted decisions (4 denied, 6 remanded; 21 total)
• Service treatment records: appeared in 1 granted decision (1 denied, 0 remanded; 2 total)
• Private medical opinion: appeared in 1 granted decision (0 denied, 0 remanded; 1 total)
• Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 1 granted decision (0 denied, 1 remanded; 2 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. 20% Benefit of the doubt doctrine inapplicability noted on denial
   The Board recorded that because the preponderance or persuasive weight of evidence was against the claim, the benefit of the doubt doctrine was found inapplicable and the claim was denied.
   98 of 500 sample sentences
2. 18% Nexus opinion recorded as at least as likely as not
   The Board recorded that a VA or private examiner opined that the Veteran's disability was at least as likely as not incurred in, caused by, or related to service or a service-connected condition.
   88 of 500 sample sentences
3. 17% Benefit of the doubt applied, grant or higher rating awarded
   The Board recorded that after resolving the approximate balance or equipoise of evidence in the Veteran's favor under the benefit of the doubt doctrine, a service connection grant or increased disability rating was awarded.
   87 of 500 sample sentences
4. 17% Statutory or legal standard of benefit of the doubt cited
   The Board cited the statutory or regulatory definition of the benefit of the doubt doctrine, noting that an approximate balance or near-equal weight of positive and negative evidence entitles the claimant to resolution in their favor.
   87 of 500 sample sentences
5. 13% Evidence found in equipoise, supporting grant
   The Board recorded that the evidence was at least in relative equipoise on a material issue, such as nexus, current disability severity, or TDIU, resulting in a finding favorable to the Veteran.
   63 of 500 sample sentences
6. 6% Severity level of radiculopathy or neuropathy recorded
   The Board recorded findings about the degree of incomplete paralysis or neuropathy severity—mild, moderate, moderately severe, or severe—of sciatic, femoral, or other lower extremity nerves to support or deny a particular disability rating.
   30 of 500 sample sentences
7. 3% TDIU entitlement supported by evidence of record
   The Board recorded that medical or vocational evidence established, at least in equipoise, that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded substantially gainful employment, supporting a TDIU grant.
   16 of 500 sample sentences
8. 3% Benefit of the doubt doctrine considered but found inapplicable on increased rating
   The Board recorded that it considered the benefit of the doubt doctrine with respect to an increased or higher disability rating claim but found the evidence persuasively against the higher rating sought.
   16 of 500 sample sentences
9. 2% Benefit of the doubt applied to effective date determination
   The Board recorded that after affording the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, an earlier effective date for a service connection grant or rating increase was found warranted.
   8 of 500 sample sentences
10. 1% Negative nexus or non-service-connection opinion recorded
    The Board recorded that a VA or private examiner opined that the Veteran's disability was not at least as likely as not caused by or related to service or a service-connected condition.
    7 of 500 sample sentences