The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to acute myeloid leukemia, finding no evidence linking it to military service. The claim for service connection for acute myeloid leukemia was also denied as there was no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation or other causative factors during service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's acute myeloid leukemia did not have a direct link to his military service and could not be presumed due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The medical records did not support a connection between the veteran's wartime experiences and his condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2003
- Citation
- 0311978
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,177 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0311978.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records, which may affect the Veteran's cause of death claim.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for acute myeloid leukemia is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ needs to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's AML, including its relationship to in-service herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) and (r)(1) based on his need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cause of death, acute myeloid leukemia, is found to be directly related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange and benzene. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.
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