The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there is no evidence of a direct or presumptive relationship between his AML and his military service.
The deciding factor: Service connection cannot be established because the medical evidence does not show a link between the Veteran's AML and his presumed Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. The Board found the VA examiner's opinion more convincing than other opinions, including those from private specialists who suggested a possible link to Agent Orange.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 15, 2021
- Citation
- 21002828
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 21002828.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to acute myelocytic leukemia, finding that it was related to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his active service in Vietnam.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) due to Agent Orange exposure, for purposes of accrued benefits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board previously denied the claim for AML due to Agent Orange exposure, but the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) has ordered a remand because the September 2014 VA examination did not discuss whether the leukemia was presumptively linked to Agent Orange. The Veteran's death while his appeal was pending at the Court necessitated substitution.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Appellant's application to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that his AML was related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The cause of death is therefore considered service-connected.
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