The Board granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), finding that the evidence was in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions were due to exposure to herbicide agents during active service.
The deciding factor: The competent and probative evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the veteran developed MDS or AML as a result of exposure to herbicide agents in service, thus granting the benefit of the doubt to the veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) [refractory anemia with excess of blasts, trisomy VIII], acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2008
- Citation
- 0812788
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,643 · Granted: 15% (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 0812788.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain a medical opinion addressing the Veteran's claimed exposure to benzene and other toxic substances during service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to an inadequate medical opinion and a need for additional development regarding potential exposures during service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service.
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