The Board remands the claim for service connection for leukemia, to include CML and chronic B-cell leukemia/hairy cell leukemia, as it requires a medical opinion under the PACT Act.
The deciding factor: A remand is required due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed condition in relation to his presumed herbicide exposure, as mandated by the PACT Act.
- Claimed conditions
- leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), chronic B-cell leukemia/hairy cell leukemia
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 19, 2025
- Citation
- A25044635
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The claims for service connection for migraine headaches and a higher rating for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) were dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of review options.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of chronic myelogenous leukemia to obtain a more comprehensive medical opinion regarding its etiology, considering the Veteran's individual medical history and lay statements.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic myelogenous leukemia, finding that the condition is etiologically related to toxic exposures during active-duty service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches and an initial evaluation of 100 percent from August 10, 2022, to November 11, 2024, for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.