The appeal is remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether it was related to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: A medical opinion is needed as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C, which may have been asymptomatic for years, was incurred during active military service or if it contributed to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2009
- Citation
- 0910190
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
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.