The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the VA medical opinions provided prior to the October 2025 rating decision. The AOJ is required to obtain a VA addendum opinion from the same nurse practitioner or another qualified clinician to address inconsistencies in the etiology of the Veteran's liver disorder.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner must clarify and reconcile the inconsistent conclusions regarding the preexistence of the Veteran's liver condition as stated in the September 2025 VA TERA addendum medical opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- Liver Disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2026
- Citation
- A26025319
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 A26025319.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, GERD, liver disorder, and peripheral neuropathy. The decision also noted that the Veteran's sciatica was not incurred in service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any current liver disorders, as well as whether they are related to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's liver disorder is remanded for further examination and opinion, including consideration of service-connected hypertension and/or PTSD medication. The issue will be decided based on the evidence presented.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's Disease and its secondary effects on dementia NOS, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic, migraine headaches, and liver disorder. The Veteran's in-service exposure to TCE is considered a risk factor for developing Parkinson's Disease.
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.