The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise, and therefore grants service connection for polycythemia vera due to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.
The deciding factor: The evidence is evenly divided on whether the Veteran's polycythemia vera was caused by his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board finds that the Veteran had conceded exposure to residual weapons grade plutonium, and medical literature supports a possible link between ionizing radiation exposure and polycythemia vera.
- Claimed conditions
- polycythemia vera
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2024
- Citation
- A24084790
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 A24084790.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart attack, kidney stones, polycythemia vera, diabetes mellitus type 2, and psoriasis is remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's headaches may be related to his service-connected polycythemia vera and/or acquired psychiatric disorder, but more evidence is needed to clarify the nature and etiology of his headaches.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's polycythemia vera is caused by in-service exposure to benzene, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's polycythemia vera is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.
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