The Veteran's cause of death was chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The Board has found that remand is necessary due to the need for further verification regarding exposure to hazardous materials during service and a new VA medical opinion on the relationship between such exposures and CLL.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there has not been substantial compliance with its previous directives concerning verification of exposure, particularly regarding live nerve agent exposure at Fort McClellan. A new VA medical opinion is required to address whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's CLL was proximately caused or aggravated by an in-service exposure to hazardous materials.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2022
- Citation
- 22019534
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 22019534.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's CLL is presumed to be related to his service in Thailand due to exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for CLL and a TDIU is being remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of the December 2023 VA examination and because the RO has not provided explicit notice on the TDIU issue.
- Granted
The Veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia is presumed to be related to his military service due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) based on the Veteran's exposure to jet fuel during his military service, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his condition.
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