The Veteran's claim for service connection for leukemia and essential thrombocythemia is granted, but the case is remanded to obtain a VA examination to address whether there is a medical nexus between an in-service incurrence (to include herbicide agent exposure and toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune) and current diagnoses of leukemia and essential thrombocythemia.
The deciding factor: The Veteran presented a new theory of entitlement based on contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, which was not previously considered. The Board finds this sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Leukemia, Essential thrombocythemia
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20049766
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 20049766.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Leukemia have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist and needs additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's leukemia.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and whether it is at least as likely as not that the causes were proximately due or aggravated by service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for leukemia, finding that his exposure to radiation during Operation Sandstone qualifies him as a presumptive radiation-exposed veteran and thus meeting the criteria for service connection.
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