The Board determined that the veteran's myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemia were related to exposure to Agent Orange during service, warranting service connection for accrued benefits purposes and for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: Dr. S., a VA physician, concluded it was more likely than not that the veteran's myelodysplastic syndrome was caused by exposure to herbicides in service.
- Claimed conditions
- myelodysplastic syndrome, leukemia
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 31, 2000
- Citation
- 0019984
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0019984.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased rating for prostate cancer and a compensable rating for myelodysplastic syndrome, but granted a separate rating for fatigue as a residual symptom of the service-connected myelodysplastic syndrome.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome and thrombocytopenia, as well as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) based on the cause of the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome, finding that the Veteran had presumptive exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's significant conditions at the time of his death were related to his service, including any toxic exposure risk activities (TERA), and if so, whether they had a material influence on the acceleration of his death.
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