The Board has granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) due to herbicide exposure, including Agent Orange. The Veteran's cause of death was also found to be related to MDS.,DIC benefits were restored as the original decision granting DIC based on MDS was determined to have involved clear and unmistakable error.
The deciding factor: The Board concluded that there is a relative balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's MDS was caused by herbicide exposure, including Agent Orange. The Board found in favor of service connection based on presumptive exposure.,The original decision granting DIC benefits for the cause of death due to MDS was determined to have involved clear and unmistakable error.
- Claimed conditions
- myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20071794
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal for a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's MDS and potential AML and b-cell leukemia due to inadequacies in previous opinions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), to include anaplastic anemia, due to toxic exposure at Fort McClellan.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome based on the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) as it was not shown to be related to the Veteran's service or any toxic exposure.
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