The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and residuals thereof, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current disability and in-service exposures to chemicals or carcinogens.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no conclusive evidence linking the Veteran's exposure to specific substances like benzene with his Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma based on current medical literature.
- Claimed conditions
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2020
- Citation
- 20015061
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 20015061.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 Veteran's service connection claim for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to herbicide agent exposure is granted, as the evidence supports his Vietnam service and presumed exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to herbicide agent exposure, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service in Panama and that the disease did not have its onset during or within one year after service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete discussion of residual conditions and the applicability of recent amendments to rating criteria.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases due to additional development being required. The Veteran's Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is potentially related to exposure to toxic substances found at United States military installations on Okinawa, but a VA examination is needed to determine if his neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is proximately due to or the result of service-connected Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
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