The Board finds that a service-connected disability, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, was a contributory cause of the veteran's death and grants the appellant's claim.
The deciding factor: There is presumed exposure to herbicides in service and competent medical evidence linking herbicide exposure in service to chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Additionally, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia was a contributing cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic leukemia
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2008
- Citation
- 0816992
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,613 · Granted: 30% (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 0816992.
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: Granted
The Veteran's chronic leukemia and recurrent pneumonia are granted service connection. The liver cirrhosis, sleep condition (previously claimed as sleep apnea syndrome), and diabetes mellitus, type II are denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic leukemia, diabetes mellitus type II, and prostate cancer due to exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The appellant provided new information about the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicides during his service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a hearing, and will schedule one at the earliest available opportunity.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
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