The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for MAC residuals due to gallbladder surgery, finding that the Veteran's disability was not caused by or became worse as a result of the procedure and subsequent treatment.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s MAC did not result from the gallbladder surgery and subsequent treatment. The Board found no evidence of direct inoculation causing the skin and soft tissue infection related to the laparoscopic procedure, and concluded that MAC is generally contracted by patients with a compromised immune system.
- Claimed conditions
- Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 4, 2019
- Citation
- A19001788
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
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