The Veteran's cause of death, respiratory failure and overwhelming sepsis with contributory hypotension, was attributed to his underlying Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), which developed as a result of the bone marrow transplant he underwent due to CML. The Board found that service connection for CML could not be established because there was no evidence showing it was incurred during or aggravated by service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's CML did not develop during his active duty service and was not shown to have been caused by in-service exposure to asbestos or ionizing radiation. The Board determined that the cause of death, respiratory failure and overwhelming sepsis with contributory hypotension, was due to the underlying CML.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2026
- Citation
- 26001659
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 26001659.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted a 100 percent rating for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia from June 4, 2014 to September 27, 2018 and a 30 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's CML was in remission during the latter period.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is granted. The issue of service connection for Behcet's Syndrome, due to presumed exposure at Camp Lejeune, is remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 7, 2023 for service connection of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), which was denied in a previous rating decision. The claim was received within one year of the PACT Act's effective date and meets eligibility criteria.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 9, 2010 for service connection of CML was granted. The VA treatment record dated October 26, 2010, which reflected the Veteran had a diagnosis of CML and was being treated for it, was considered new and material evidence within one year of the October 15, 2010 rating decision.
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