The Board denied service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and renal disease, finding that there was no causal relationship between these conditions and exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water (CLCW). The Veteran's currently diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (cirrhosis) and chronic kidney disease are not among the listed diseases in 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(f), which would allow for presumptive service connection due to exposure to CLCW.
The deciding factor: The March 2020 VA examiner concluded that there was no causal relationship between the Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver and renal disease and exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water (CLCW). The examiner noted that the most common risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and advancing age. The Veteran had these risk factors but also multiple comorbid medical conditions known to cause chronic kidney disease.
- Claimed conditions
- cirrhosis of the liver, chronic kidney disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2021
- Citation
- 21012667
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 21012667.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease, effective January 30, 1998. The decision is based on newly associated service treatment records that were not previously considered in the original denial of the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between chronic kidney disease and service. The Veteran's claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.
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