The Board has granted service connection for a liver disorder on the basis that it is proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision also addresses whether there was any other theory of service connection, such as exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or herbicide agent exposure, but finds these theories moot given the secondary nexus established.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the liver disorder is proximately due to the Veteran's alcoholism, which in turn is as least as likely as not due to his service-connected PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- liver disorder, fatty liver, mild splenomegaly, alcoholic steatosis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20069249
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for kidney, liver, and pituitary gland disorders to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding their nature and etiology.
- Dismissed
The appeals for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and service connection for fatty liver have been withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of fatty liver as it requires additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining private treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claims for various conditions due to an error in failing to develop the claim to consider the Veteran's assertions of toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) during his active service.
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