The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence provided by the Appellant. The Veteran's death was caused by his exposure to toxic herbicides, specifically Agent Orange, during his active duty in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: A private physician provided a positive etiological opinion linking the Veteran’s diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) to his exposure to toxic herbicides and Agent Orange, which he can be presumed exposed to as a result of his confirmed Vietnam service. The Board found that CML was at least as likely as not caused by his exposure to toxic herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), Leukemia Meningitis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20030779
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 20030779.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) as the evidence did not support a finding that it was related to in-service exposures, including ionizing radiation or asbestos.
- Granted
The Veteran's CML is rated as 100 percent disabling effective July 2, 2020. His eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also granted on the same date.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and Stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma, finding that the conditions are secondary to herbicide exposure at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is granted as it was caused by or related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange.
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.