The Veteran's service connection claim for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) is granted because the evidence supports a finding that his exposure to burn pits during his time in Iraq caused his AML.
The deciding factor: The private physician's opinion supported by the Veteran's own statements regarding his exposure to benzene and burn pits, combined with the VA examiner's acknowledgment of the possibility of direct service connection for partially explained etiology conditions like AML, led to the grant of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19178225
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,170 · Granted: 38% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19178225.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. After considering all evidence and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant, service connection for AML due to herbicide exposure is granted.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and granted an initial 20 percent rating for right lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, while remanding several other issues.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several issues related to the effective dates and service connection for AML, including a motion to revise the November 2005 rating decision on CUE grounds. The propriety of the January 2022 rating decision regarding the effective date for accrued benefits purposes is also under review.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied a compensable evaluation for AML with allogenic SCT from August 1, 2018. The appeal is remanded for further consideration of service connection claims related to hiatal hernia, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and an acquired mental disorder.
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