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
- Not verified here — check the original 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20030779.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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