The Board granted service connection for steatohepatitis and gastrointestinal impairment, to include chronic diarrhea and GERD. The claims for a chronic cough, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, facial scar, back disability, left hip disability, bilateral hand osteoarthritis, hemorrhoids, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension were denied.

The deciding factor: The private medical opinion from January 2019 provided a positive nexus for the Veteran's steatohepatitis and gastrointestinal impairment to his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found this evidence more persuasive than the VA examination reports which did not support a current diagnosis of steatohepatitis or a causal relationship between the disabilities and service.

Claimed conditions

steatohepatitis, gastrointestinal impairment, to include chronic diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic cough, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, facial scar, back disability, left hip disability, bilateral hand osteoarthritis, hemorrhoids, erectile dysfunction, hypertension

How they argued it

Presumptive (no nexus needed)

Exposure basis

Camp Lejeune water

Rating assigned

100%

Decision date

October 23, 2025

Citation

A25092117

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine