The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death due to end stage renal failure and end stage liver disease, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
The deciding factor: There was no medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's in-service treatment for infectious mononucleosis with mild anicteric hepatitis and his later development of end stage liver disease. The Board also found insufficient evidence connecting the Veteran's end stage renal failure to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- End stage renal failure, End stage liver disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2026
- Citation
- A26011208
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 A26011208.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was caused by end stage liver disease, which the Board found to be related to alcohol abuse rather than service-connected hypertension. The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was not related to service, including exposure to herbicides, or to a service-connected disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence submitted by the appellant. The Veteran's cause of death was caused by gastrointestinal bleed, esophageal varices, hepatocellular carcinoma, end stage liver disease, and liver cirrhosis.,The appellant contends that the Veteran's hepatitis C may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam. The Board finds a remand necessary for an addendum opinion on both issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and theories of service connection, including a potential link between PTSD, drug use, and hepatitis C.
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.