The Veteran's service-connected hairy cell leukemia has not required medication, blood transfusions or any other type of treatment and did not result in a hemoglobin count less than 10 g/100 ml. Therefore, the criteria for a higher (compensable) rating for hairy cell leukemia have not been met.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hairy cell leukemia has remained stable with no need for medication or blood transfusions and his hemoglobin levels have consistently been above 10 g/100 ml throughout the initial rating period, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable (10%) rating under Diagnostic Code 7700.
- Claimed conditions
- Hairy Cell Leukemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2014
- Citation
- 1441941
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1441941.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 has determined that further development is necessary to clarify the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and his claimed Hairy Cell Leukemia, which may be due to Agent Orange exposure.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for a VA clinician to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and hairy cell leukemia are related to his service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and the cause of death, finding that the Veteran's AML was caused by his presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The decision also grants presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hairy cell leukemia and residuals thereof, finding that the disease was not in an active phase at the time of his claim. The effective date remains unchanged as it is the date of receipt of the claim.
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