The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death, acute leukemia with an underlying myelodysplastic syndrome, was not caused or contributed to by a service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: A VA medical expert concluded that PTSD did not cause the Veteran's myelodysplastic syndrome, acute leukemia, and subsequent death.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 29, 2015
- Citation
- 1527736
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 1527736.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform daily activities of living without the assistance of another, and he is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, which are presumed to be related to the development of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome is granted with an effective date of February 28, 2014. The rating assigned is 10%.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death was not based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), thus the severance of service connection is improper.
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