The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service and its potential connection to his CMML. A medical opinion is needed to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's CMML and his in-service exposure to asbestos.
The deciding factor: The claim for service connection requires an assessment of whether the Veteran's CMML was caused by or related to his in-service exposure to asbestos, which has not been adequately addressed due to conflicting evidence regarding his MOS and potential exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19125600
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death based on claimed in-service ionizing radiation exposure, and also denied entitlement to dependents' educational assistance benefits (DEA). The appellant argued that the veteran developed CMML due to inservice exposure while exploring ground zero of the Nevada nuclear test site. However, the Board found no evidence supporting this claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis as new and relevant evidence has been received since the previous denial.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a left-hand condition is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection for mononeuropathy to the left hand fourth finger with parasthesia of skin in an October 2025 rating decision.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.