The Veteran's claims for multiple myeloma, neck disability, low back disability, and skin cancer have been granted on the basis of service connection due to herbicide exposure under the Blue Water Navy Act.,Service connection is established for multiple myeloma as a result of herbicide exposure during active duty. The claim was reopened based on new evidence showing the Veteran's neck disability may be related to his multiple myeloma.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was exposed to herbicides while serving aboard the USS Hornet and has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which is presumed service-connected due to this exposure. The claim for a neck disability is granted as it is considered secondary to the established service-connected condition of multiple myeloma.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple Myeloma, Neck Disability (Chronic Neck Pain), Low Back Disability (Chronic Back Pain), Skin Cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23067996
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 23067996.
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 ESRD is denied as not related to service, including herbicide agent exposure. The skin cancer of the right ear remains under remand for further evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's multiple myeloma is rated as noncompensable, and the Board has determined that the disability picture does not adequately contemplate his symptoms of fatigue. The VA examiner noted marked interference with employment due to fatigue. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating is remanded for consideration of extraschedular considerations.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by multiple myeloma, which is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand during the Vietnam War. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on this presumption.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to December 2023 is remanded due to the presence of a 100% disability rating for multiple myeloma starting from December 21, 2023. The Board finds that the Veteran has not met the schedular criteria for a schedular TDIU rating and refers the case for extraschedular consideration.
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