The Veteran's diagnosed CLL is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during service, and the Board finds that this evidence is at least in equipoise with the other opinions, granting service connection for CLL.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions are considered competent and after resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds the evidence to be at least in equipoise in showing that his CLL is related to his in-service herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 26, 2020
- Citation
- 20036096
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 20036096.
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 Veteran's claims for cerebrovascular strokes and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded all five service connection claims due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain National Guard records for ADT or IDT. The Veteran's exposure to insecticides during his New York Air National Guard service is considered presumptive for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, CKD, COPD, and CLL.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, finding that the Veteran's rectal cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were not related to his exposure to herbicide agents during military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cardiovascular disorder and CLL due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service, including stress from service, or ionizing radiation exposure during active duty.
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