The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 60 percent for hepatitis B with cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular cancer, as well as a separate disability rating. The AOJ must obtain a medical opinion to clarify the nature and severity of the Veteran's hepatocellular carcinoma during the entire appellate period on review.
The deciding factor: The Board found that remand is necessary due to procedural issues related to the combination of the Veteran's hepatitis B with cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular cancer, as well as the retroactive discontinuation of a separate rating for the hepatocellular cancer. The AOJ must obtain a medical opinion to clarify these matters.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatocellular cancer, hepatitis B with cirrhosis of the liver
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26017907
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 A26017907.
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 Veteran's cause of death was respiratory failure caused by hepatic failure, hepatocellular cancer, and chronic hepatitis C infection.,Service connection for the cause of death is granted as his alcohol and substance abuse were secondary to his service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular cancer is service-connected, as there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of this determination.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and hepatitis B with cirrhosis of the liver was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hepatocellular cancer and service, as well as the role of his prostate cancer in causing death. The VA will need to obtain additional medical opinions.
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