The Veteran's claim for fatty liver disease was denied, but his claim for squamous cell carcinoma of the right pyriform sinus was reopened and granted. The cancer is presumed to be related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion linking the cancer to Camp Lejeune exposure outweighs the VA examiner's contrary opinion based on insufficient evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- fatty liver disease, squamous cell carcinoma of the right pyriform sinus
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23026757
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23026757.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete etiology opinions regarding secondary service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal. The Veteran's fatty liver disease, post-liver transplant, is being remanded for an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of his liver disorders before and after his liver transplant.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for paresthesias of the hands, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, and fatty liver disease is remanded due to a failure to provide an examination regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's fatty liver disease was granted a 20 percent rating from April 27, 2018 to May 14, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms of daily fatigue, malaise, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and upper quadrant pain warranted this rating.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.