The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's acute myelogenous leukemia, which was presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange during service. The AOJ is instructed to seek an opinion from a medical specialist on whether it is more likely than not that the condition occurred in or is related to the Veteran's military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the AOJ committed a pre-decisional duty to assist error by failing to obtain an etiology opinion regarding the presumed Agent Orange exposure and direct service connection of the Veteran's acute myelogenous leukemia.
- Claimed conditions
- acute myelogenous leukemia
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 15, 2023
- Citation
- A23032188
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 A23032188.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that the claim must be denied as there is no legal basis to assign an earlier effective date.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to cardiac arrest and acute myelogenous leukemia, finding no indication that these conditions were related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and UV radiation, as well as a need for further medical opinion on whether his causes of death are related to these exposures.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) due to exposure to chemical solvents containing Trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, during service. The Veteran's cancer is considered a direct result of his military service.
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