The Board found that the cause of death, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), was not caused by ionizing radiation exposure during service and denied the claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: A November 2015 opinion from a VA physician found it unlikely that CLL could be attributed to in-service radiation exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2018
- Citation
- 1800349
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 1800349.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial 100 percent rating for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) from October 14, 2024.
- Granted
The Board granted the restoration of a 100 percent rating for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) effective January 1, 2025, as the reduction in the disability rating was improper.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and posttraumatic stress disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam or Korea.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an increased initial rating of 100 percent for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and remanded the claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma.
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