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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,612 · Granted: 16% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for hepatitis B and C with chronic fatigue, migraines, cervical strain with degenerative arthritis, and chronic cartilage fracture at junction of 10th and 11th right rib complex.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The claim for a higher initial rating for hepatitis B remains denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's decreased sexual drive and erectile dysfunction were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's hepatitis B and hepatitis C were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's hepatitis B is found to have originated during his active-duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.
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.