The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for AML and MDS due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, finding that entitlement did not arise until March 14, 2017 when AML and MDS were added to the list of presumptive conditions associated with Camp Lejeune. The Board concluded that direct service connection was not warranted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for AML and MDS due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, as there is no medical opinion linking the diseases directly to the Veteran's in-service contaminant exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20052744
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 20052744.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension and a higher disability evaluation for MDS, as well as remanded service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Prostate Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, and Parkinson's Disease based on new and relevant evidence of exposure to toxic chemicals during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to obtain a TERA analysis and potentially an opinion regarding the Veteran's AML or MDS as it may be related to toxic exposure during service.
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.