{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/malignant-skin-neoplasms-other-than-malignant-melanoma","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:30.613Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Malignant skin neoplasms (other than malignant melanoma)","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":5833,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":19.2,"denied_pct":28.5,"remanded_pct":51.3,"granted_on_merits_pct":40.3,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":324,"granted_pct":12,"denied_pct":37.7,"remanded_pct":47.8},{"year":2018,"issues":535,"granted_pct":13.6,"denied_pct":35.5,"remanded_pct":48},{"year":2019,"issues":726,"granted_pct":14,"denied_pct":32.8,"remanded_pct":51.2},{"year":2020,"issues":704,"granted_pct":15.6,"denied_pct":32.2,"remanded_pct":50.3},{"year":2021,"issues":710,"granted_pct":17.2,"denied_pct":27.7,"remanded_pct":53.8},{"year":2022,"issues":803,"granted_pct":19.3,"denied_pct":24.8,"remanded_pct":54.9},{"year":2023,"issues":742,"granted_pct":18.6,"denied_pct":23.6,"remanded_pct":56.3},{"year":2024,"issues":649,"granted_pct":27.9,"denied_pct":20.6,"remanded_pct":50.1},{"year":2025,"issues":715,"granted_pct":25.9,"denied_pct":26.2,"remanded_pct":46.9},{"year":2026,"issues":274,"granted_pct":36.1,"denied_pct":21.5,"remanded_pct":42.3}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":76.4,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":644,"granted_pct_with":74.6,"granted_pct_without":33},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":3735,"granted_pct_with":35.5,"granted_pct_without":52.2},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":1100,"granted_pct_with":83.4,"granted_pct_without":21.4},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":2938,"granted_pct_with":35.3,"granted_pct_without":47.3},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":2310,"granted_pct_with":54.2,"granted_pct_without":26.3},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":389,"granted_pct_with":73.7,"granted_pct_without":36.5},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":4322,"granted_pct_with":34.7,"granted_pct_without":61.2},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":149,"granted_pct_with":54.3,"granted_pct_without":39.8},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":488,"granted_pct_with":44.3,"granted_pct_without":39.8}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":235},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":15},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":15},{"reason":"presumed herbicide exposure in vietnam","decisions":11},{"reason":"conflicting medical opinions on nexus","decisions":9},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":9}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":250},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":219},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":192},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":180},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":137},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":65}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040241","year":2026,"judge":"MARCUS N. FULTON","rationale":"Favorable private medical opinion linking cancer to psoriasis and treatments; Inadequate VA examiner opinion that did not address nexus to treatment; Medical literature supports increased risk of skin cancer from psoriasis and treatments"},{"case_id":"A26039757","year":2026,"judge":"DUSTIN L. WARE","rationale":"Competent, credible, and probative evidence establishes the Veteran's melanoma/SCC was caused by service activities.; Dr. W.F.'s private opinion was given high probative weight due to thorough review, analysis, and clear rationale.; Negative VA opinion from July 2025 was discounted due to apparent b… [truncated, 64 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26038815","year":2026,"judge":"C. CRAWFORD","rationale":"Private medical opinion found melanoma at least as likely as not related to Agent Orange exposure.; Opinion cited scientific literature and explained biological mechanisms.; Veteran has current diagnosis of melanoma and presumed Agent Orange exposure."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26039301","year":2026,"judge":"D. JOHNSON","rationale":"No current diagnosis of skin cancer; Service treatment records negative for skin cancer; Post-service records negative for skin cancer; Layperson not competent to diagnose; Benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine not applicable"},{"case_id":"A26037307","year":2026,"judge":"ERIC S. LEBOFF","rationale":"Negative VA C&P examiner opinion; Evidence weighs against service connection; Primary cause is UV exposure"},{"case_id":"A26035812","year":2026,"judge":"M. HYLAND","rationale":"No probative evidence of nexus to service, including herbicide exposure.; Oncologist's opinion lacked specific rationale linking melanoma to herbicide exposure.; Melanoma is not a presumptive condition for herbicide exposure."}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}