The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B, finding that the evidence does not support a link between his condition and military service. The claim for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's hepatitis B is less likely than not incurred in service or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness, based on the lack of evidence of such during service and nearly 40 years between diagnosis and separation from active duty. For the peripheral neuropathy, the Board found additional development was necessary.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatitis B, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2025
- Citation
- 25007794
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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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