The Board denied an earlier effective date for DIC benefits, finding that the additional service department and DoD records did not provide a basis for the grant of service connection.
The deciding factor: The new evidence was relevant but not the basis for the grant of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20019981
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 20019981.
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 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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