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
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