The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C is reopened, and the Board has remanded his claims for a liver condition to determine if there is evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.
The deciding factor: New evidence submitted by the Veteran suggests that he may have contracted Hepatitis C during boot camp in service, which could potentially link it to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Serum hepatitis (claimed as Hepatitis C), Cirrhosis
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20041652
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 20041652.
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 cirrhosis, hepatitis C, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, Barrett's esophagus, and obstructive sleep apnea but dismissed the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability.
- Partly granted
The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection for congestive heart failure and PTSD, granted a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD, and granted special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence linking his death to his military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to April 19, 2011, and a 100 percent rating for cirrhosis from October 17, 2007. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD after April 19, 2011, and hepatitis C were denied.
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.