Liver Cirrhosis

DC 7312Digestive38 CFR 4.114, DC 7312

Severe scarring of the liver that prevents it from working properly. The VA rates liver cirrhosis based on the severity of liver damage, symptoms, and complications like fluid buildup, bleeding, or confusion.

Rating Levels

You have near-constant debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain.

What the VA looks for

Near-constant debilitating symptoms
Inability to maintain employment
Severe liver dysfunction on lab work
Multiple complications requiring ongoing treatment

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not documenting all symptoms including fatigue, abdominal pain, weight loss, and jaundice — each contributes to the rating.
⚠Not connecting cirrhosis to service-connected hepatitis C, alcohol use disorder, or fatty liver disease.
⚠Not tracking liver function tests (AST, ALT, bilirubin, albumin) over time to show disease progression.
⚠Not documenting hospitalizations for complications like variceal bleeding, ascites, or hepatic encephalopathy.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Liver Conditions

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…