The Veteran's claim for service connection for liver cancer, as well as claims related to his death and various disabilities, were denied. The rating for diabetes mellitus was granted at a 40 percent level, but higher ratings are not warranted. Ratings for other conditions such as neurological impairments, tinnitus, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss were also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish that the Veteran's liver cancer or any of his service-connected disabilities caused or contributed substantially to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- liver cancer, diabetes mellitus, neurological impairment of the right upper extremity, neurological impairment of the left upper extremity, neurological impairment of the right lower extremity, neurological impairment of the left lower extremity, tinnitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, left inguinal hernia residuals
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2023
- Citation
- 23024182
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 23024182.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
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