the position taken by previous review boardsthat there is no connection between his service-connected disabilities and those events which finally terminated in his death in 1965. 1 wouldfirst note that throughout the records that are available when he was in field and general hospitals,all of the blood counts obtained at that time show a completely normal blood picture without evidence of any leukemic process. While it is theoretically possible for a chronic CASE NO. 25 there is no evidence on either detailed physical or laboratory Type of Injury: Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia. leukemia to persist for a period of 20 years,i.e., from 1945 to 1965, examination that there was any leukemia present in 1945, hence, there could not have been a continuous presence of lymphocytic leukemia during that period oftime. Secondly, while it has been noted that over-exposure to X-rays may result in the development of either a myelocytic or a monocytic leukemia, there is (a) no evidence that he received an unusual amountof exposure to X-rays in the course of his studies, and (b) no known increased incidence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in individuals who are excessively exposed to such X-rays or related high energy rays, so that this could not possibly be a factor in his development of a chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [Appellant] contends that he suffered continuous infection from the time of his injury in the Army until the time of his death but none of the medical testimony bears this out, and even if it were borne out that he had someinfection, there is no evidence that infection as we now understand it has anything to do with the development of lymphocytic leukemia. Certainly many individuals, previously normal, who develop a leukemic status, do have trouble with infections, and it is quite commonfor the infection that they develop to be a contributing cause in the death of such individuals. Findings of the BVA and Basis for Decision: In finding that the independent medical expert had substantiated the Board’s decision denying entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran’s death the Board said: _.. there was no causative relationship between the appellant’s service-connected gunshot wound injuries and leukemia which resulted in his death in 1965... and the service-connected disabilities did not affect his physical condition to such an extent that they contributed substantially os materially to cause death. BVA’s Decision: Denial Affirmed. Date of Decision: 1967. Appellant’s Allegation: That veteran’s death was caused by exposure to radiation while in the service. Facts: Veteran was on active duty from October 1943 to April 1946. No defects were found on examination for service and examination at separation disclosed normal findings. The veteran died on May 29, 1965. The cause of death was established as acute myeloblastic leukemia. A statement by the appellant alleged, among other things, that veteran was among the first 28 volunteers for testing the first atomic bomb at Los Alamos, New Mexico; that during the first atomic test veteran had lain down behind a fence within a six mile radius of the blast and suffered burns on his neck as a result of the blast; that after the blast veteran suffered a severe nosebleed and that these nosebleeds continued from time to time. No record of -veteran’s exposure to radiation was located. Information obtained by the Board indicated that the veteran was assigned to a technical service unit, Corps of Engineers, Manhattan Project; that exposure information on the Manhattan Project was not available; that the morning reports of his unit were missing; and that information concerning the bombblast in question was not a matter of record in the service department. Further information obtained by the Board indicated that radiation exposure records listed doses for those persons who wore film badges and estimated doses for those persons who did not wear film badges but who entered possible radiation exposure areas and that veteran's name did not appear in the radiation exposure records. Certain other available records showed that veteran was promoted to another detachment which performed maintenance services about the post but was not involved in any technical activity. Medical Evidence: Hospital records disclosed that veteran received outpatient treatment for an epistaxis in December 1943, was admitted for observation in December 1944 after an accident in which an Army truck overturned and was treated in June 1945 for abrasions and lacerations after he overturned another Army vehicle. There was no indication in the hospital records that he ever worked within any technical areas or received any exposure to radiation. Findings of the BVA and Basis for Decision: In finding no record of exposure to ionizing radiation during service or of participation in activities involving 82 83