The Board denied service connection for hairy cell leukemia as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during service, manifested to a compensable degree within one year after discharge from active duty, or was otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
The deciding factor: The evidence persuasively weighed against finding that the Veteran's hairy cell leukemia began during service, manifested to a compensable degree within one year after discharge from active duty, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease to include the alleged exposure to toxicants and/or carcinogens.
- Claimed conditions
- hairy cell leukemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2025
- Citation
- A25040573
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 hairy cell leukemia as due to herbicide exposure and the cause of death, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hairy cell leukemia, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his military service and exposure to contaminated drinking water at Fort Sam Houston.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of hairy cell leukemia to confirm exposure to ionizing radiation and obtain a medical opinion on its etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection of hairy cell leukemia is remanded. The Board needs more information, including private medical records and a new VA medical opinion.
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