The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. The Veteran died from subdural hematoma, which was caused by chronic myelogenous leukemia (presumptively related to Agent Orange exposure). Service connection is granted.
The deciding factor: The May 1996 medical records indicate that the Veteran had a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which later developed into chronic myelogenous leukemia. Given his service in Vietnam and the presumption for certain diseases associated with herbicide exposure, including chronic B-cell leukemias, the Board finds that the new evidence establishes a link between the Veteran's death and his service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Subdural Hematoma, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Chronic Renal Failure
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2013
- Citation
- 1331457
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 1331457.
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 Veteran's death was caused by chronic myelogenous leukemia, a condition that is not service-connected. The Board granted the claim for DIC based on this finding.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by service or a service-connected disability. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and no other link between the Veteran's death and his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's prostate cancer was caused by his service-connected varicocele. The cause of death is also under consideration.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic myelogenous leukemia is granted with an effective date of March 15, 2016.
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