The Board found that the veteran's chronic liver disease and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease were not incurred or aggravated during active service nor as a result of a service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.
The deciding factor: VA medical opinions indicated the veteran's present chronic liver disease was most likely due to alcohol abuse and hepatitis C infection acquired after 1996, while his hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease did not have a clear link to his service-connected undifferentiated type schizophrenia.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Liver Disease, Hiatal Hernia/Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2004
- Citation
- 0426030
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0426030.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by metabolic and respiratory acidosis due to hepatic encephalopathy, liver failure, and chronic liver disease. The Board found that the Veteran's alcohol abuse in an attempt to self-medicate his PTSD symptoms contributed to the development of his liver conditions and ultimately led to his death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The reduction from 70 to 50 percent for PTSD is overturned, and the prior rating of 70 percent is restored. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence at the time of the decision on appeal to support a reduction in the rating for PTSD. The issues of service connection for GERD and entitlement to TDIU are remanded due to procedural errors.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic liver disease and remanded the claim of entitlement to Total Disability due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, chronic liver disease, chronic inguinal hernia, arteriosclerosis obliterans, and bronchial asthma. The claims were reopened but ultimately denied.
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