The Board found that the cause of death, acute myelogenous leukemia due to myelodysplastic syndrome, was not caused by or substantially related to service-connected disability. The veteran's exposure to chemicals during service could not be confirmed and there was no evidence linking his cause of death to any service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the veteran did not have a service-connected disability that contributed to his death, nor was his cause of death linked to any presumptive conditions due to chemical exposure in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 2, 2006
- Citation
- 0633916
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 0633916.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for acute myelogenous leukemia, diabetes mellitus, type II, and lung cancer have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his service on vessels within the territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining information about the veteran's exposure to pesticides and benzene during service. The VA specialist will provide an opinion on whether the veteran's in-service Agent Orange exposure (and/or other herbicide, pesticide, or benzene exposure) caused his death from Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myelocytic Leukemia.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if the veteran's exposure during service contributed to his death from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
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