The Board has determined that the veteran's fatal liver cancer was incurred in service and is related to his hepatitis residuals, leading to cirrhosis. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is granted.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's fatal liver cancer may be traced back to a past episode of hepatitis during service, which led to chronic liver damage resulting in cirrhosis and ultimately causing his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis, Cirrhosis of the liver, Liver cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 10, 2003
- Citation
- 0315428
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0315428.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for liver cancer, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his in-service exposures and his diagnosed liver cancer. The medical opinion provided by VA concluded that the liver cancer was not caused by or aggravated by any of the conditions listed.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis of the liver were dismissed due to procedural deficiencies. The claims of entitlement to service connection for arrhythmia, chronic kidney disease, and bilateral lower extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy are remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder, and also awarded service connection for cirrhosis of the liver on an aggravation basis due to the Veteran's bipolar disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's liver, lung, brain, and bone cancers in relation to his service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
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