The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hepatic steatosis is related to his service at Camp Lejeune or secondary to his service-connected hepatitis B.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not provide a sufficient rationale for their opinion and further clarification is needed on whether the Veteran’s hepatic steatosis is caused by or aggravated by his hepatitis B, as well as its relation to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatic steatosis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20055189
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 20055189.
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: Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hepatic steatosis have been denied. The claim for rheumatoid arthritis is being remanded.,Service connection has not been established for the claimed conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and migraines were all denied increased ratings.,Service connection for hepatic steatosis was granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatic steatosis, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, finding that there was no evidence linking his condition to his military service or presumed exposure.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 10 percent for his left index finger scar is granted. The appeal to grant service connection for hepatic steatosis is dismissed as the Veteran did not file a written statement of disagreement within the required timeframe.
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.