The Board denied a permanent and total disability rating for the Veteran's Hodgkin's lymphoma as there is no evidence of active cancer, and the disease is not considered permanent in nature.
The deciding factor: Based on the Diagnostic Criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.117, Diagnostic Code 7709, a total and permanent rating for Hodgkin's lymphoma is precluded by regulation as there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, and the Veteran is in remission.
- Claimed conditions
- Hodgkin's lymphoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2024
- Citation
- 24031422
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding that the Veteran was exposed to commercial herbicides and pesticides during her service on Galeta Island in Panama, which contributed to her development of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD, asthma disorder, and Hodgkin's lymphoma to correct a pre-decisional error of the duty to assist.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date and a compensable rating for Hodgkin's lymphoma, as the Veteran’s condition has not been actively treated since 2020.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for Hodgkin's lymphoma, hypertension, and Type II diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide agent exposure.
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