The Veteran's claims for hepatitis B, left knee disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability were denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the hepatitis claim. The left knee and back disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of a current diagnosis or medical etiology.
The deciding factor: No new and material evidence was received to reopen the hepatitis B claim, and the Veteran's left knee and back disabilities do not meet the criteria for service connection as there is no current diagnosis or medical etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis B, Left Knee Disability (including arthritis), Back Disability (including arthritis), Acquired Psychiatric Disability (including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder with Depression)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2021
- Citation
- 21000135
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 21000135.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the reduction of his hepatitis B rating from 20% to 0% was upheld. Service connection was not established for diabetes, left knee arthritis, hypertension, or obstructive sleep apnea. Bilateral hearing loss was granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's asthma and hepatitis B claims are remanded for further evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the other claims.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for hepatitis B from January 4, 1977, to June 18, 2009 is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective addendum opinion.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for Hepatitis B, finding insufficient evidence of a diagnosis and thus no additional disability.
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