{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/prostate-malignant-neoplasm","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:01.518Z","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":"Prostate malignant neoplasm","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":7872,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":31,"denied_pct":31.2,"remanded_pct":37.1,"granted_on_merits_pct":49.9,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":325,"granted_pct":21.2,"denied_pct":46.2,"remanded_pct":29.2},{"year":2018,"issues":656,"granted_pct":22.6,"denied_pct":38.1,"remanded_pct":36.4},{"year":2019,"issues":951,"granted_pct":26,"denied_pct":34.6,"remanded_pct":37.5},{"year":2020,"issues":1010,"granted_pct":29.5,"denied_pct":31,"remanded_pct":37.9},{"year":2021,"issues":858,"granted_pct":28.2,"denied_pct":34.1,"remanded_pct":36.4},{"year":2022,"issues":1030,"granted_pct":35,"denied_pct":28,"remanded_pct":36.1},{"year":2023,"issues":955,"granted_pct":34.9,"denied_pct":27.6,"remanded_pct":36.3},{"year":2024,"issues":949,"granted_pct":36.5,"denied_pct":25.5,"remanded_pct":36},{"year":2025,"issues":932,"granted_pct":31.4,"denied_pct":27.6,"remanded_pct":39.7},{"year":2026,"issues":342,"granted_pct":32.7,"denied_pct":29.2,"remanded_pct":36.5}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":68.6,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":753,"granted_pct_with":65.3,"granted_pct_without":47.6},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":4178,"granted_pct_with":37,"granted_pct_without":66.8},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":1089,"granted_pct_with":75.6,"granted_pct_without":44.1},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":2715,"granted_pct_with":34.7,"granted_pct_without":58.5},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":2437,"granted_pct_with":55.1,"granted_pct_without":47},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":430,"granted_pct_with":58.9,"granted_pct_without":49.2},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":5900,"granted_pct_with":46.6,"granted_pct_without":63.4},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":401,"granted_pct_with":74.4,"granted_pct_without":48.2},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":441,"granted_pct_with":58.7,"granted_pct_without":49.3}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":326},{"reason":"prostate cancer is presumptively linked to herbicide exposure","decisions":82},{"reason":"veteran served in thailand during vietnam era","decisions":76},{"reason":"veteran diagnosed with prostate cancer","decisions":63},{"reason":"prostate cancer is a presumptive condition for herbicide exposure","decisions":55},{"reason":"prostate cancer is a presumptive condition under 38 c.f.r. § 3.309(e)","decisions":41}],"denied":[{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":291},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":284},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":179},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":173},{"reason":"no continuity of symptomatology","decisions":93},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":72}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040768","year":2026,"judge":"B.T. KNOPE","rationale":"Veteran served 30+ days at Camp Lejeune during contamination period; Prostate cancer not presumptively linked to Camp Lejeune water; February 2024 VA exam established nexus to toxic exposure"},{"case_id":"A26040684","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL J. SKALTSOUNIS","rationale":"Prostate cancer is eligible for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.; No presumptive service connection due to lack of Vietnam service or documented AO exposure.; Board found evidence in approximate balance for direct service connection of herbicide exposure.; Veteran's lay st… [truncated, 131 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26040774","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL SORISIO","rationale":"Criteria for 60% rating met; No local recurrence or metastasis; Residuals approximated urine leakage requiring appliance"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26005096","year":2026,"judge":"S. HENEKS","rationale":"No evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation; No nexus to service or claimed exposures; Prostate cancer did not originate in service, within a year of service, or is not otherwise etiologically related to active service"},{"case_id":"A26040464","year":2026,"judge":"JENNIFER WHITE","rationale":"No established in-service event (herbicide exposure); Service treatment records negative for prostate cancer; No VA examination required due to lack of in-service event"},{"case_id":"A26039310","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL MARTIN","rationale":"Evidence weighs against service connection; No indication of in-service onset; No indication of toxic exposure contribution; Denied per 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}