BVA decisions by condition
Multiple myeloma: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a multiple myeloma issue in 673 decisions. It granted the multiple myeloma issue in 33.0% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 28.8%, and remanded it in 37.3%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 53.4% were granted.
Decisions
673
2017–2026
Granted
33.0%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
53.4%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
37.3%
Denied: 28.8%
Multiple myeloma outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 52 | 30.8% | 30.8% | 34.6% | 3.8% |
| 2019 | 70 | 30.0% | 31.4% | 38.6% | 0.0% |
| 2020 | 64 | 20.3% | 34.4% | 45.3% | 0.0% |
| 2021 | 70 | 21.4% | 40.0% | 38.6% | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 66 | 42.4% | 21.2% | 33.3% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 94 | 36.2% | 23.4% | 39.4% | 1.1% |
| 2024 | 92 | 33.7% | 23.9% | 38.0% | 4.3% |
| 2025 | 106 | 42.5% | 23.6% | 33.0% | 0.9% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 50 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied multiple myeloma decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the multiple myeloma 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 141 | 87.7% | 40.4% | +47.3 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 66 | 82.0% | 49.5% | +32.5 pts |
| Buddy statement | 48 | 75.7% | 51.2% | +24.5 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 268 | 64.9% | 43.6% | +21.4 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 65 | 71.4% | 51.0% | +20.5 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 72 | 53.8% | 53.3% | +0.5 pts |
| Lay statement | 510 | 48.8% | 72.0% | −23.1 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 71.6% of the decisions that granted multiple myeloma.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 39.2% of grants and 7.2% 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 multiple myeloma 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 | 246 | 42.6% | 60.7% | −18.1 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 351 | 43.4% | 66.3% | −22.9 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied multiple myeloma
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established55
- Veteran diagnosed with multiple myeloma8
- Veteran served in thailand during vietnam era6
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service5
- Presumptive service connection for multiple myeloma due to herbicide exposure5
- Direct service connection established4
- Pact act presumptive service connection3
- Multiple myeloma is presumptively linked to herbicide exposure3
Most common reasons in denials
- Service records negative or silent24
- No current diagnosis22
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim17
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis15
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service15
- Current diagnosis established11
- No continuity of symptomatology5
- Continuity of symptomatology since service3
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 multiple myeloma decisions
Granted
Veteran diagnosed with multiple myeloma.; Claimed exposure to herbicides in Okinawa and Vietnam.; Veteran's statements found credible and probative.; Board found more likely than not exposed to herbicides in Okinawa.; Benefit of doubt applied for Vietnam service.; Multiple myeloma is a presumptive condition based on herbicide exposure.
Favorable finding from AOJ decision is binding on the Board; AOJ granted service connection for multiple myeloma
Veteran served in qualifying period and location for Blue Water Navy presumption.; Multiple myeloma is an enumerated disease under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor due to conflicting evidence on ship's exact location.
Denied
Veteran already rated at maximum 100% for symptomatic myeloma.; No evidence of exceptional or unusual circumstances for extraschedular consideration.
Veteran's MGUS was not active or in a treatment phase.; Criteria for 100 percent rating not met.; Benefit of the doubt doctrine not applicable for this claim.
No current diagnosis of multiple myeloma; VA examinations found no objective evidence of diagnosis or treatment; Veteran not competent to provide medical diagnosis
Rules that apply to multiple myeloma 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 multiple myeloma 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 multiple myeloma 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.