The Board remands the claim for a VA liver examination to determine the relationship between the diagnosed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and active service, including exposure to burn pits.
The deciding factor: The March 2023 liver examination report was found to be of limited probative value due to deficiencies in addressing the specific etiology of NASH related to active service and toxic exposure risk activities, necessitating further evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 19, 2025
- Citation
- A25025213
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for liver disease, diagnosed as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis liver disease (MASLD), and cirrhosis of the liver, based on a nexus to in-service herbicide exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection of NASH is remanded. The VA needs to conduct a new examination considering all toxic exposures, including Camp Lejeune and herbicide agents in Vietnam.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the claim for neuro-behavioral effects due to procedural defects. All other issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions were remanded for further adjudication.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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