The Veteran was granted service connection for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection was denied for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The Board found that while there is no direct evidence linking prostate cancer to service, the Veteran's lay statements were not competent evidence to establish a relationship between his current condition and service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service, which was presumed to have caused Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. The Board granted service connection based on this presumption.,For prostate cancer, the Board found that while there is no direct evidence linking it to service, the Veteran's lay statements were not competent evidence to establish a relationship between his current condition and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, adenocarcinoma of the prostate
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 1, 2017
- Citation
- 1755250
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 1755250.
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 adenocarcinoma of the prostate is rated at 60 percent effective February 5, 2021. An effective date of August 5, 2020 for a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and verruca vulgaris of the right hand are not rated as compensable.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death, cardiorespiratory arrest and adult failure to thrive, is not service-connected as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds that the medical evidence does not support a finding of service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's prostate condition was restored to a 60% rating effective December 16, 2025.,An earlier effective date of August 23, 2012, for the grant of TDIU is granted.,SMC at the housebound rate is granted effective September 4, 2025.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder, tinnitus, and urethritis, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.
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