{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/judges/matthew-w-blackwelder","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:16.079Z","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":{"judge":"Matthew W. Blackwelder","note":"Judges do not choose their cases. Compare only with board_same_conditions_*, the rest of the Board on the same mix of conditions. Not a ranking.","decisions":9201,"years":"2017-2026","issues":17404,"granted_pct":20.2,"denied_pct":42.5,"remanded_pct":34.2,"board_same_conditions_granted_pct":19.8,"board_same_conditions_remanded_pct":47.2,"by_condition":[{"condition":"Knee conditions","issues":1454,"granted_pct":17.1,"board_granted_pct":17.3,"remanded_pct":35.8,"board_remanded_pct":51.3},{"condition":"Hearing loss","issues":985,"granted_pct":22.7,"board_granted_pct":19.5,"remanded_pct":20.5,"board_remanded_pct":34.7},{"condition":"PTSD","issues":795,"granted_pct":23.3,"board_granted_pct":28.9,"remanded_pct":32.2,"board_remanded_pct":38.2},{"condition":"Tinnitus","issues":647,"granted_pct":53.5,"board_granted_pct":39.5,"remanded_pct":11,"board_remanded_pct":22.9},{"condition":"Sleep apnea","issues":573,"granted_pct":30.5,"board_granted_pct":26.2,"remanded_pct":33.3,"board_remanded_pct":50.5},{"condition":"Hypertension","issues":538,"granted_pct":17.3,"board_granted_pct":17.2,"remanded_pct":35.5,"board_remanded_pct":48.9},{"condition":"Intervertebral disc syndrome","issues":526,"granted_pct":22.8,"board_granted_pct":18.6,"remanded_pct":32.5,"board_remanded_pct":48.2},{"condition":"Degenerative arthritis of the spine","issues":513,"granted_pct":19.3,"board_granted_pct":20.7,"remanded_pct":29.8,"board_remanded_pct":46.2},{"condition":"Shoulder impairment","issues":407,"granted_pct":12.8,"board_granted_pct":14.3,"remanded_pct":31.9,"board_remanded_pct":53.2},{"condition":"Migraine","issues":380,"granted_pct":27.4,"board_granted_pct":30.2,"remanded_pct":32.9,"board_remanded_pct":42.3},{"condition":"Peripheral nerve disorders","issues":351,"granted_pct":20.5,"board_granted_pct":20.5,"remanded_pct":44.4,"board_remanded_pct":51.8},{"condition":"Ankle impairment","issues":337,"granted_pct":18.7,"board_granted_pct":16.8,"remanded_pct":31.8,"board_remanded_pct":50.6},{"condition":"Hip impairment","issues":331,"granted_pct":17.2,"board_granted_pct":14.3,"remanded_pct":38.7,"board_remanded_pct":53.9},{"condition":"Diabetes mellitus","issues":326,"granted_pct":26.7,"board_granted_pct":19.9,"remanded_pct":25.8,"board_remanded_pct":40.2},{"condition":"Cervical spine limitation of motion","issues":224,"granted_pct":16.5,"board_granted_pct":13.1,"remanded_pct":39.7,"board_remanded_pct":58.6}],"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":2012,"granted_pct":10.1,"denied_pct":35.8,"remanded_pct":38.8},{"year":2018,"issues":2867,"granted_pct":16.2,"denied_pct":40.2,"remanded_pct":33},{"year":2019,"issues":2954,"granted_pct":16.7,"denied_pct":42.8,"remanded_pct":33.1},{"year":2020,"issues":2739,"granted_pct":17.7,"denied_pct":41.3,"remanded_pct":30.4},{"year":2021,"issues":1985,"granted_pct":19,"denied_pct":38.7,"remanded_pct":27.5},{"year":2022,"issues":2545,"granted_pct":20.6,"denied_pct":29,"remanded_pct":40.2},{"year":2023,"issues":2928,"granted_pct":16.7,"denied_pct":35.7,"remanded_pct":36.7},{"year":2024,"issues":2982,"granted_pct":21.3,"denied_pct":38.3,"remanded_pct":29.8},{"year":2025,"issues":2962,"granted_pct":21.2,"denied_pct":45.3,"remanded_pct":22.6},{"year":2026,"issues":1123,"granted_pct":20.6,"denied_pct":45.1,"remanded_pct":22.4}]}}