The Board has granted service connection for aplastic anemia, finding that the Veteran's current condition is as likely as not related to his active military service, including exposure to environmental toxins during his service in the Southwest Asia theatre of operations.
The deciding factor: The Board found reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and concluded that his aplastic anemia was caused by his in-service chemical exposures, finding credible his statements about exposure to smoke from burning oil wells and a chemical fire aboard his ship.
- Claimed conditions
- Aplastic anemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2021
- Citation
- 21020908
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 21020908.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is denied as the earliest effective date that can be assigned is June 3, 2021.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal. The claim for increased rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis was remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for aplastic anemia was denied, and the Board found that it was not factually ascertainable within one year prior to December 18, 2018, that his condition had increased in severity.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected aplastic anemia is denied. The earliest communication from the Veteran that can be reasonably interpreted as an informal or formal claim was received on March 31, 2011.
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