The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is in remission, and he has been granted separate ratings for a heart disability, hepatitis B, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, joint pain, weakness, malaise, and insomnia as residuals of his service-connected condition. The case is being remanded to determine whether the Veteran should be entitled to a rating for cirrhosis of the liver.
The deciding factor: The April 2018 VHA opinion indicated that if cirrhosis of the liver is present, it was accelerated by the rituximab-induced reactivation of Hepatitis B. The Veteran has not been evaluated for this condition and a VA examination is needed to determine whether he should be entitled to a rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hepatitis B, Fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, joint pain, weakness, malaise, and insomnia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 23, 2018
- Citation
- 18129027
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 18129027.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective March 2, 2017.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain and neck pain, finding no current disability. The claim for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is remanded due to inadequate consideration of all potential exposures.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is also remanded due to a lack of development of the Veteran's therapist's records.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding that the claim was filed within one year of separation from active duty and therefore the earliest possible effective date is October 15, 2020.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was granted with an effective date of March 13, 2024. This decision is based on the PACT Act becoming effective and the Veteran's symptoms being consistent with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since April 14, 2022.
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