Statute treatment: 38 U.S.C. § 511

Ranked leading cases interpreting this statute, drawn from 1,224 citation events across 524 distinct cases.

1,224citations total

524distinct interpreting cases

93distinct courts

349citations in last 5y

1936–2026year range

Top 20 leading cases

#1 Veterans for Common Sense v. Shinseki (2012) ca9 126 own cites 30× in case

#2 William M. Hanlin v. United States (2000) cafc 65 own cites 21× in case

#3 Broudy, Alice P. v. Mather, Susan H. (2006) cadc 89 own cites 12× in case

#4 R. Edward Bates, Claimant-Appellant v. R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2005) cafc 65 own cites 13× in case

#5 Veterans for Common Sense v. Eric K. Shinseki (2011) ca9 30 own cites 16× in case

#6 Kay Butler v. United States (2012) ca4 96 own cites 6× in case

#7 Stewart J. Smith v. United States (2021) ca11 26 own cites 11× in case

#8 Thomas, Oscar v. Principi, Anthony (2005) cadc 517 own cites 3× in case

#9 Price, Gordon E. v. United States (2000) cadc 91 own cites 5× in case

#10 Peavey v. Holder (2009) dcd 75 own cites 5× in case

#11 Trilles v. West (2000) cavc 50 own cites 6× in case

#12 Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Ass'n v. McDonald (2016) cadc 21 own cites 9× in case

#13 Smalls v. United States (2009) uscfc 25 own cites 8× in case

#14 Denise Jarrell v. R. James Nicholson (2006) cavc 86 own cites 4× in case

#15 In re the Fee Agreement of Cox (1997) cavc 73 own cites 4× in case

#16 Allen W. Hicks v. Veterans Administration (1992) ca8 54 own cites 4× in case

#17 Gary Littlejohn v. United States (2003) ca9 93 own cites 3× in case

#18 Kalick v. United States (2013) uscfc 17 own cites 7× in case

#19 Willie C. Wages v. Robert A. McDonald (2015) cavc 28 own cites 5× in case

#20 Allen W. HICKS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Dr. Elisabeth SMALL, M.D., Defendant-Appellee (1995) ca9 76 own cites 3× in case

Ranking method: leading_score = ln(1 + own_citation_count) × √(mentions_in_case) × flag_factor, where flag_factor = 1.0 green · 0.6 unknown · 0.5 neutral · 0.4 yellow · 0.3 procedural · 0 red. Red-flagged cases excluded — their interpretation has been undermined and shouldn't lead the list. Top 20 returned per statute. Open any case for full G Cite, trajectory, and per-circuit treatment.