The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder, claimed as hepatitis C, due to herbicide exposure and secondary to service-connected second degree burn scars. The veteran did not have a current liver disability or diagnosed disability of hepatitis B or C that manifested during service or within one year of service, was not etiologically related to herbicide (Agent Orange) exposure in service, and is not otherwise related by competent medical evidence to active service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no current liver disorder or hepatitis C. The veteran's claimed conditions were not shown to be related to his military service, including due to herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- liver disorder, hepatitis C
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2003
- Citation
- 0328553
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 0328553.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, jaundice, hypogeusia, and hyposmia as there was no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and remanded the claim for a heart disability due to insufficient evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for kidney, liver, and pituitary gland disorders to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding their nature and etiology.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hepatitis C, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
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