The Board denied service connection for a hematologic or lymphatic condition, diagnosed as MDS or myeloproliferative disorder, and Hodgkin’s disease. The Veteran's hematologic or lymphatic condition was not shown to be chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The Board found that the Veteran did not have Hodgkin’s disease.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's hematologic or lymphatic condition was caused by herbicide agent exposure, as two oncologists concluded it was MDS or myeloproliferative disorder rather than Hodgkin’s disease. The Board also found no current disability for Hodgkin’s disease.
- Claimed conditions
- hematologic or lymphatic condition, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myeloproliferative disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19141376
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,249 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19141376.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) due to presumed exposure to environmental hazards during military service, specifically burn pits. The Veteran's MDS is considered presumptively related to his Gulf War service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for myeloproliferative disorder and thrombocytopenia, related to in-service radiation exposure during Operation Tomodachi, are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to a temporary total disability rating due to hospitalization or treatment for a service-connected condition requiring convalescence are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, migraines, and myeloproliferative disorder are being remanded due to a duty to assist error in obtaining private treatment records. The Board will consider the evidence again after acquiring these records.
- Granted
Service connection for MDS is granted, and a higher initial disability rating of 40 percent for the service-connected back disability is also granted. Other issues on appeal are resolved in favor of the appellant.
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