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
- Not verified here — check the original 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0202142.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore DIC benefits are denied.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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