Veterans Law Judge
Judge James L. March: BVA decisions and outcomes
From 2017 to 2021, Veterans Law Judge James L. March signed 2,959 Board decisions covering 6,257 condition issues. The judge granted 17.8% of those issues, denied 32.3% and remanded 46.8%. For the same mix of conditions, the rest of the Board granted 19.6% and remanded 47.6%, so this judge's grant rate is close to the Board's and the remand rate is close to it.
Decisions
2,959
2017–2021
Issues decided
6,257
One issue per condition per decision
Issues granted
17.8%
Board, same conditions: 19.6%
Issues remanded
46.8%
Board, same conditions: 47.6%
Judges do not choose their cases, and grant rates differ a lot by condition. “Board, same conditions” is what the rest of the Board decided for the same mix of conditions, so the comparison is fair to the judge's docket. This is not a ranking.
Conditions this judge decided most
Each row compares the judge's issues on one condition with the rest of the Board's issues on the same condition. Conditions with fewer than 20 of this judge's issues are left out, because a few decisions can swing the rate.
| Condition | Issues | Granted | Board granted | Remanded | Board remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee impairment | 452 | 14.6% | 17.3% | 51.5% | 51.1% |
| Hearing loss | 363 | 23.4% | 19.5% | 34.7% | 34.6% |
| Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | 309 | 23.6% | 28.9% | 37.5% | 38.1% |
| Tinnitus | 255 | 48.2% | 39.6% | 17.3% | 22.8% |
| Degenerative arthritis of the spine (spondylosis) | 225 | 14.2% | 20.7% | 48.0% | 46.1% |
| Sleep apnea syndromes (obstructive central mixed) | 198 | 30.3% | 26.2% | 45.5% | 50.4% |
| Hypertension | 196 | 6.6% | 17.2% | 49.5% | 48.7% |
| Intervertebral disc syndrome | 181 | 23.2% | 18.6% | 43.6% | 48.1% |
| Peripheral nerve disorders | 152 | 22.4% | 20.5% | 38.8% | 51.8% |
| Shoulder impairment | 151 | 11.3% | 14.3% | 51.7% | 53.0% |
| Migraine | 138 | 26.8% | 30.2% | 39.1% | 42.2% |
| Ankle impairment | 109 | 20.2% | 16.8% | 43.1% | 50.5% |
| Diabetes mellitus | 106 | 23.6% | 19.9% | 37.7% | 40.1% |
| Major depressive disorder | 104 | 24.0% | 34.7% | 41.3% | 34.2% |
| Hip impairment | 86 | 8.1% | 14.4% | 46.5% | 53.8% |
Judge James L. March's decisions by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 267 | 21.0% | 40.8% | 53.2% |
| 2018 | 244 | 29.1% | 45.5% | 54.9% |
| 2019 | 1,052 | 32.9% | 45.5% | 54.0% |
| 2020 | 1,067 | 30.5% | 44.8% | 47.3% |
| 2021 | 329 | 41.9% | 40.4% | 45.0% |
Why the Board granted or denied issues in Judge James L. March's decisions
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established72
- In-service noise exposure conceded21
- Continuity of symptomatology since service14
- Service connection established13
- Caused by the service-connected disability12
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim9
- Evidence evenly balanced8
- Already at the maximum schedular rating6
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim260
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service97
- No current diagnosis69
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis66
- Service records negative or silent55
- Current diagnosis established33
- No continuity of symptomatology31
- Already at the maximum schedular rating13
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent Judge James L. March decisions
Granted
Private physician documented forward flexion limited to 0-20 degrees during flare-ups.; Consistent statements from the veteran regarding constant low back pain.; Evidence supports 40 percent rating criteria, not 50 percent for unfavorable ankylosis.
Symptoms consistent with 100% rating criteria (suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, impaired impulse control, hallucinations); VA treatment records and examination support 100% rating; Resolved doubt in Veteran's favor
Private physician opinions found constructive bronchiolitis causes significant/severe impairment and will likely require oxygen therapy.; Board found private physicians' characterization of disability level as significant/severe but not totally disabling most approximately contemplated by 60% rating criteria.; Constructive bronchiolitis is a distinct obliterative process of small airways, not clearly gauged by current PFTs.; Board liberally applied rating criteria given private physician statements and Veteran's testimony.
Denied
Weight of evidence against rating in excess of 20 percent; Did not meet criteria for 30 percent rating (favorable ankylosis or flexion <= 15 degrees)
Weight of evidence against in-service onset or nexus; VA examiner opined less likely than not related to service; Private opinion lacked adequate rationale and diagnosis was clarified
Preponderance of the evidence is against service connection.; Benefit of the doubt doctrine does not apply.
Research your Judge James L. March case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Issue rates count each condition the Board decided in a decision once, by the outcome of that issue. A decision can grant one issue and deny another.
- The yearly table counts decisions: a decision with a granted issue and a denied issue appears in both columns, so a row can add up to more than 100%.
- "Board, same conditions" weights the rest of the Board's grant and remand rate for each condition by how many of this judge's issues were on that condition. It does not adjust for evidence, hearing type or representation.
- Judges are identified from the signature on each decision. This page is a statistical summary, not an evaluation of any judge.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2021) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.