{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/traumatic-brain-injury","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:13.349Z","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":"Traumatic brain injury","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":646,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":19.8,"denied_pct":35.9,"remanded_pct":41.6,"granted_on_merits_pct":35.6,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":21,"granted_pct":4.8,"denied_pct":52.4,"remanded_pct":33.3},{"year":2018,"issues":53,"granted_pct":18.9,"denied_pct":28.3,"remanded_pct":43.4},{"year":2019,"issues":49,"granted_pct":14.3,"denied_pct":28.6,"remanded_pct":57.1},{"year":2020,"issues":62,"granted_pct":12.9,"denied_pct":35.5,"remanded_pct":48.4},{"year":2021,"issues":70,"granted_pct":18.6,"denied_pct":40,"remanded_pct":37.1},{"year":2022,"issues":61,"granted_pct":13.1,"denied_pct":42.6,"remanded_pct":42.6},{"year":2023,"issues":79,"granted_pct":21.5,"denied_pct":29.1,"remanded_pct":45.6},{"year":2024,"issues":102,"granted_pct":26.5,"denied_pct":35.3,"remanded_pct":37.3},{"year":2025,"issues":119,"granted_pct":21,"denied_pct":41.2,"remanded_pct":34.5},{"year":2026,"issues":40,"granted_pct":32.5,"denied_pct":30,"remanded_pct":37.5}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":74.2,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":151,"granted_pct_with":59.6,"granted_pct_without":25.1},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":545,"granted_pct_with":32.7,"granted_pct_without":55.6},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":172,"granted_pct_with":65.5,"granted_pct_without":20.7},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":357,"granted_pct_with":33.6,"granted_pct_without":38.6},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":210,"granted_pct_with":41,"granted_pct_without":32.8},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":589,"granted_pct_with":33.7,"granted_pct_without":60},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":42,"granted_pct_with":53.6,"granted_pct_without":34},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":113,"granted_pct_with":51.5,"granted_pct_without":31.8}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":9},{"reason":"veteran diagnosed with tbi","decisions":2},{"reason":"in-service head injury documented","decisions":2},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":2},{"reason":"current tbi diagnosis","decisions":2},{"reason":"positive nexus opinion from va examiner","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":45},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":23},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":17},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":15},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":7},{"reason":"no current tbi diagnosis","decisions":5}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040957","year":2026,"judge":"D. MARTZ AMES","rationale":"Benefit of the doubt applied; VA opinion found TBI due to eye removal at least as likely as not proximately due to or the result of acquired anophthalmia post enucleation; Optic nerve injury is part of the CNS, thus injuring the brain"},{"case_id":"A26038393","year":2026,"judge":"CYNTHIA M. BRUCE","rationale":"In-service injury reported from bomb explosion with loss of consciousness; Subsequent cognitive difficulties (memory, processing); Favorable VA exam opinion linking TBI to service"},{"case_id":"A26036425","year":2026,"judge":"HARVEY P. ROBERTS","rationale":"Private examiner opinion linked fall to Alzheimer's disease; Resolved reasonable doubt in Veteran's favor; Established causal relationship between Alzheimer's and TBI"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26033524","year":2026,"judge":"B.T. KNOPE","rationale":"Service records lack evidence of head injury beyond a laceration.; Veteran's claims of assault/falls and subsequent symptoms are inconsistent and unsupported.; No current diagnosis of TBI supported by objective evidence."},{"case_id":"A26032421","year":2026,"judge":"M. C. GRAHAM","rationale":"Veteran's statements regarding accident timing, circumstances, and recollections were inconsistent and not credible.; Service treatment records did not document head trauma or loss of consciousness related to the in-service accident.; Private opinion lacked probative value due to remote nature and f… [truncated, 39 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26029244","year":2026,"judge":"JOHN J. CROWLEY","rationale":"Injuries from July 1993 MVA determined to be willful misconduct and not in line of duty.; Service department findings unanimously show appellant's reckless driving, intoxication, and non-compliance with police orders as proximate cause of injuries.; Service records confirm MVA caused by driving unde… [truncated, 138 chars omitted]"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}