The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for steatohepatitis and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to the need for additional VA treatment records, as well as a new examination to address the Veteran's theories of entitlement.
The deciding factor: The Court found that there were outstanding VA treatment records prior to June 2006 which needed to be obtained before making a decision on the service connection claims.
- Claimed conditions
- steatohepatitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2018
- Citation
- 18141247
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 18141247.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for steatohepatitis and gastrointestinal impairment, to include chronic diarrhea and GERD. The claims for a chronic cough, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, facial scar, back disability, left hip disability, bilateral hand osteoarthritis, hemorrhoids, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension were denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's steatohepatitis disability is related to the in-service use of isoniazid, and the Board finds service connection for this condition is warranted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss, left ankle collateral ligament sprain, left lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, left shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, myopia and retinal hole lattice degeneration (claimed as bilateral eye retina problems, thinning, and vision decrease), right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right knee strain, right lower extremity sciatic nerve pain, right shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, a severe stomach and colon condition, fibromyalgia, steatohepatitis, vertigo and balance issues, and flat feet; and entitlement to increased evaluations for lumbosacral strain, GERD, left knee strain, restrictive lung disease, allergic rhinitis, PB, a skin rash, and tension headaches. The Veteran was also remanded for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and tinnitus.
- Denied
The Veteran's hepatitis C has been rated at 10 percent since August 2003. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they are intermittent and do not require dietary restriction or continuous medication.
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.