The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, liver failure due to or as a consequence of veno-occlusive disease and allogenic bone marrow transplant/syngeneic due to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was incurred in service. The evidence reasonably shows a causal connection between the veteran's acute lymphoblastic leukemia and exposure to herbicide agents used in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The VA physician concluded that it is as likely as not that the veteran acquired acute lymphoblastic leukemia secondary to Agent Orange/pesticide exposure, given the sparse literature on this specific connection but noting the general link between pesticides and childhood leukemias like acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia, Liver failure
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 6, 2002
- Citation
- 0202142
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 0202142.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore DIC benefits are denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) made pre-decisional errors in denying the appellant's claims for service connection for cause of death and entitlement to survivor's pension. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining evidence regarding the appellant's status as a surviving spouse and the Veteran's wartime service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) made pre-decisional errors in denying the appellant's claims for service connection for cause of death and entitlement to survivor's pension. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining evidence regarding the appellant's status as a surviving spouse and the Veteran's wartime service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA Regional Office (RO) made pre-decisional errors in denying the appellant's claims for service connection for cause of death and entitlement to survivor's pension. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining evidence regarding the appellant's status as a surviving spouse and the Veteran's wartime service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.