The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to AML, which is related to his military service and herbicide exposure. The claim for accrued benefits based on pending MDS/AML service connection was denied as there was no evidence in the file at the time of the veteran's death that supported this claim.
The deciding factor: The Board found an approximate balance of evidence regarding whether the veteran's AML is related to herbicide exposure, granting service connection for the cause of death. However, due to the two-year limitation on accrued benefits and lack of evidence in the file at the time of the veteran's death, the claim for accrued benefits was denied.
- Claimed conditions
- myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myelogenous leukemia (MDS/AML)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 23, 2008
- Citation
- 0824748
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 0824748.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
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