The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 9, 2018 for service connection for multiple myeloma and for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance status (SMC aid and attendance) and the housebound rate (SMC housebound), but denied a higher initial disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service near the perimeter of Korat RTAFB established entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection under the PACT Act, while a 100% disability rating was not warranted based on the evidence provided.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple myeloma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25041091
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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 the cause of death, finding that the Veteran's service-connected multiple myeloma contributed substantially or materially to his death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of multiple myeloma to obtain additional evidence and an adequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple myeloma, Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), and kidney failure secondary to DMII based on in-service herbicide exposure.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple myeloma and the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's multiple myeloma was related to exposure to solvents during his period of active duty service.
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