The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, as a medical opinion is required to determine if his fatal hepatitis C, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma may be related to his presumed exposure to herbicides during service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's fatal conditions and his service, specifically due to the lack of documented treatment in service. However, as the Veteran has verified service in Vietnam and his exposure to herbicide agents is conceded, a medical opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his presumed exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatitis C, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19149216
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, jaundice, hypogeusia, and hyposmia as there was no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and remanded the claim for a heart disability due to insufficient evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hepatocellular carcinoma as the evidence did not support a link to in-service exposure or injury.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hepatitis C, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.