The Board has ordered an additional VA examination to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's liver disability, including whether it is caused or aggravated by his in-service herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: An adequate medical opinion is needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's liver disability and his service-connected herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- stage IV liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 11, 2018
- Citation
- 1821824
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1821824.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for liver disease, diagnosed as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis liver disease (MASLD), and cirrhosis of the liver, based on a nexus to in-service herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a VA liver examination to determine the relationship between the diagnosed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and active service, including exposure to burn pits.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board dismissed the claim for neuro-behavioral effects due to procedural defects. All other issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions were remanded for further adjudication.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection of NASH is remanded. The VA needs to conduct a new examination considering all toxic exposures, including Camp Lejeune and herbicide agents in Vietnam.
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