The Veteran's death pension claim was denied because his service did not include wartime service. The burial benefits claim was denied as the Veteran had no pending claims for compensation or pension at the time of his death, and there was insufficient evidence to show he would have been entitled to such benefits if they were pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's period of active duty from January 1957 to November 1957 did not include any period of wartime service. The appellant does not meet the threshold criteria for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected death pension benefits because his service did not qualify as wartime service. For burial benefits, there was no pending claim for compensation or pension at the time of the Veteran's death and insufficient evidence to show he would have been entitled to such benefits if they were pending.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute myelogenous leukemia, Cryptorchidism (right)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2015
- Citation
- 1521927
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 1521927.
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 remands the claim for service connection for acute myelogenous leukemia due to an inadequate medical opinion and a need to address direct service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's acute myelogenous leukemia is granted as service connected due to in-service herbicide exposure, with the Board finding that his condition was likely caused by this exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The VA withheld compensation benefits to recoup separation pay in the amount of $17,513.28 due to a statutory requirement and the decision is denied as it was proper.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia is at least as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to chemicals released from burn pits during his deployment in Afghanistan.
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