The Veteran died of hepatocellular liver cancer, but there is no evidence that the liver disorder was incurred during service or due to herbicide exposure. The Board denied service connection for a liver disability on accrued benefits purposes.
The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence showing a link between the Veteran's liver disorders and his active duty service or presumed herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatocellular cancer, hepatitis B
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1532020
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 1532020.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for hepatitis B and C with chronic fatigue, migraines, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, and chronic cartilage fracture at junction of 10th and 11th right rib complex.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claim for a higher initial rating for hepatitis B remains denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death was respiratory failure caused by hepatic failure, hepatocellular cancer, and chronic hepatitis C infection.,Service connection for the cause of death is granted as his alcohol and substance abuse were secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 60 percent for hepatitis B with cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular cancer, as well as a separate disability rating. The AOJ must obtain a medical opinion to clarify the nature and severity of the Veteran's hepatocellular carcinoma during the entire appellate period on review.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.