The Veteran seeks service connection for NASH, which he claims is related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA has presumed that veterans exposed to contaminants in the water supply during their time at Camp Lejeune are entitled to presumptive service connection for certain diseases, including liver cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, a recent medical opinion concluded that NASH is not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board has determined this opinion was inadequate due to its inconsistency with VA's determination of the relationship between contaminants in the water supply and liver disease.
The deciding factor: The medical opinion provided by the AOJ did not consider the presumption of service connection for NASH related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, as established by VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- NASH
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 10, 2026
- Citation
- A26021145
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 A26021145.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's NASH is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's liver condition diagnosed as NAFLD, NASH, and stage III fibrosis is due at least in part to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for this condition is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed disabilities, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and unspecified autoimmune disorder, which he contends are related to exposure to ionizing radiation at Camp Lejeune. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to active service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed NASH is attributable to his in-service exposure to hazardous chemical agents, and thus service connection for NASH is granted.
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