The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hepatitis B condition and its relation to his military service. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran had any type of hepatitis since filing his claim in October 2010 or within close proximity thereto, and whether it is at least as likely as not related to blood exposure during his laundry duties in service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis B condition and its relation to his military service. The case has been remanded for additional medical opinions to address these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatitis B
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20073138
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 a neck disability, back disability, GERD, hepatitis B, atopic dermatitis, and OSA. Tinnitus was denied.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's requests for extensions of time to file appeals regarding rating decisions that denied service connection for hepatitis B and tinnitus, finding no good cause for late filings.
- Granted
The Board granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent for hepatitis B, but not higher.
- Dismissed
The appeal for compensation under 38 USC § 1151 for hepatitis B is dismissed as the grant of service connection for hepatitis B (previously rated as hepatitis C) is a greater benefit.
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