The Veteran's liver condition diagnosed as NAFLD, NASH, and stage III fibrosis is due at least in part to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for this condition is granted.
The deciding factor: Diabetes mellitus was found to be a chronic medical condition that affected the Veteran's liver, leading to fatty liver disease which progressed to stage III fibrosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), NASH, Stage III fibrosis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 11, 2024
- Citation
- A24030761
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 A24030761.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), finding that his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulted in weight gain, which is a risk factor for NAFLD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran seeks service connection for NASH, which he claims is related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA has presumed that veterans exposed to contaminants in the water supply during their time at Camp Lejeune are entitled to presumptive service connection for certain diseases, including liver cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, a recent medical opinion concluded that NASH is not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board has determined this opinion was inadequate due to its inconsistency with VA's determination of the relationship between contaminants in the water supply and liver disease.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's NASH is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed disabilities, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and unspecified autoimmune disorder, which he contends are related to exposure to ionizing radiation at Camp Lejeune. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to active service.
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.