{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/mouth-injuries","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:15.361Z","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":"Mouth injuries","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":793,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":11.9,"denied_pct":42.4,"remanded_pct":43.6,"granted_on_merits_pct":21.9,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":47,"granted_pct":4.3,"denied_pct":44.7,"remanded_pct":44.7},{"year":2018,"issues":90,"granted_pct":11.1,"denied_pct":45.6,"remanded_pct":34.4},{"year":2019,"issues":98,"granted_pct":12.2,"denied_pct":37.8,"remanded_pct":46.9},{"year":2020,"issues":104,"granted_pct":7.7,"denied_pct":47.1,"remanded_pct":43.3},{"year":2021,"issues":119,"granted_pct":6.7,"denied_pct":47.9,"remanded_pct":43.7},{"year":2022,"issues":95,"granted_pct":12.6,"denied_pct":29.5,"remanded_pct":55.8},{"year":2023,"issues":116,"granted_pct":17.2,"denied_pct":37.9,"remanded_pct":43.1},{"year":2024,"issues":98,"granted_pct":9.2,"denied_pct":50,"remanded_pct":37.8},{"year":2025,"issues":89,"granted_pct":20.2,"denied_pct":47.2,"remanded_pct":30.3},{"year":2026,"issues":26,"granted_pct":19.2,"denied_pct":34.6,"remanded_pct":42.3}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":63.8,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":91,"granted_pct_with":53.1,"granted_pct_without":16.4},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":567,"granted_pct_with":19.5,"granted_pct_without":32.1},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":93,"granted_pct_with":47.7,"granted_pct_without":17.3},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":366,"granted_pct_with":20,"granted_pct_without":23.9},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":208,"granted_pct_with":28.1,"granted_pct_without":19.2},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":40,"granted_pct_with":38.7,"granted_pct_without":20.6},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":636,"granted_pct_with":21.6,"granted_pct_without":23.7},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":46,"granted_pct_with":14.3,"granted_pct_without":22.4}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":9},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":4},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":4},{"reason":"severance of service connection was improper","decisions":2},{"reason":"presumed herbicide exposure due to vietnam service","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":59},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":29},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":22},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":20},{"reason":"already at the maximum schedular rating","decisions":9},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":8}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26039279","year":2026,"judge":"MICHELLE L. KANE","rationale":"Evidence in equipoise; Reasonable doubt resolved in veteran's favor; Service treatment records show in-service polyps"},{"case_id":"A26032496","year":2026,"judge":"DAVID GRATZ","rationale":"Loss of taste is a symptom of service-connected sinusitis; Evidence establishes loss of taste; Morgan v. Wilkie supports secondary service connection for symptoms"},{"case_id":"26002220","year":2026,"judge":"THOMAS L. ENGLISH","rationale":"Evidence in relative equipoise; Benefit of the doubt applied; Competent and credible testimony regarding jaw pain"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26037806","year":2026,"judge":"WILLIAM H. DONNELLY","rationale":"No evidence of hoarseness, inflammation, thickening, nodules, polyps, submucous infiltration, or pre-malignant changes.; No evidence of stricture, obstruction, or paralysis with speech impairment.; Veteran denied current symptoms from polyps during VA exam."},{"case_id":"A26037152","year":2026,"judge":"MATTHEW W. BLACKWELDER","rationale":"Weight of evidence against diagnosis; No diagnosis in service treatment records; Post-service records did not diagnose anorexia; Lay assertions alone insufficient for VA exam"},{"case_id":"A26034347","year":2026,"judge":"ANN K. MINAMI","rationale":"Evidence against nexus to service.; Discharge report did not mention epistaxis.; Private records silent for diagnosis until years after service.; No indication of service relation."}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}