The Board denied service connection for chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) as the evidence did not support a finding that CLL began during service or was related to service, including exposure to jet fuel.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion found no causal relationship between the Veteran's exposure to benzene fuels in service and his diagnosis of CLL.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19168684
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 19168684.
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.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for several conditions were dismissed. However, the veteran was granted an effective date of December 6, 2017 for service connection for erectile dysfunction and related SMC.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lymphoid leukemia, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and thus no basis to grant service connection based on Agent Orange. The Veteran's current diagnosis is not linked to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service, which could affect his claim for service connection for the cause of death.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.