The Veteran's service connection claims are remanded due to the need for clarification on whether his hepatitis C in service could include non-A or non-B hepatitis, and if so, whether his documented symptoms of jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and liver pain combined with a positive biopsy result for hepatitis C in 1991 make it at least as likely as not that he had hepatitis C in service.
The deciding factor: The VA reviewing clinician found the Veteran's positive hepatitis diagnosis in service could include non-A or non-B hepatitis, but did not provide an opinion on whether his documented symptoms and biopsy result support a finding of hepatitis C in service.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatitis C, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hypertension, edema, loss of vision, rheumatoid arthritis, porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20047921
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 20047921.
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.
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The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis disability rating is being remanded for additional development due to significant weight loss and anemia.
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The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
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The Board has expanded the scope of the claim for major depression to encompass any mental health disability raised by the record and has remanded six issues for additional development.
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