The Board granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship between these conditions and ionizing radiation exposure during the Veteran's service aboard the USS Holland and USS Nathan Hale.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma are due to his conceded exposure to ionizing radiation in service aboard the USS Holland and USS Nathan Hale, based on positive medical nexus opinions from treating physicians.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25016100
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25016100.
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 is being remanded to obtain a medical examination regarding the severity of his residuals from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including chronic fatigue. The initial compensable rating for CLL remains denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for CLL, B-cell leukemia, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma on a presumptive basis due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran served within the territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty.
- Granted
The Veteran's supplemental claim for service connection for sleep apnea, CLL and CFS was granted. The appeal is based on new evidence that reopened the previously denied claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and renal cell carcinoma are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his exposure history.
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