The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to herbicide agent exposure, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service in Panama and that the disease did not have its onset during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the Veteran had not been exposed to herbicides at any time.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was no credible evidence of herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's service, specifically noting that his service records and historical documentation did not indicate any use or storage of herbicides in Panama. The disease was also found not to have its onset within one year after service discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20065761
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 Veteran was awarded a TDIU effective March 1, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 14, 2016.
- Dismissed
The appeal regarding non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is dismissed. Initial ratings of 40 percent are granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, but no higher. The appeal regarding a biopsy scar is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was received on September 30, 2015. The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 30, 2015, based on the presumption that exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused his cancer.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, right ear hearing loss disability, and prostate cancer. The Veteran's LLE neuropathy claim will be remanded to allow for a new VA examination.
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.