C&P Exam for Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis (DC 7345)

Diagnostic code: 7345Condition: Chronic liver disease without cirrhosisRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.114DBQ: DBQ GI Liver Conditions

Which form the examiner uses

For chronic liver disease without cirrhosis (DC 7345), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

DBQs are Department of Veterans Affairs Form 21-0960 series documents. Public DBQs are hosted on benefits.va.gov. A handful are examiner-only and are not posted publicly.

What the examiner records

The fields below are reproduced from the DBQ form the examiner completes for this diagnostic code. This is the structural map of the form, showing what the examiner is asked to measure, observe, and record. It is a factual reproduction of the public DBQ, not advice on how to answer.

This DBQ evaluates hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other liver conditions including chronic liver disease, liver abscess, and liver transplant.

How DC 7345 maps to this DBQ: for this diagnostic code specifically, the examiner typically completes sections I-III, VII, and IX-XI of this form. Section III is the condition-specific section for this code. Sections IV-VI and VIII cover unrelated conditions on this DBQ and are skipped.

DIAGNOSIS (Section I)
  • 1A. List the claimed condition(s) that pertain to this questionnaire:
  • 1B. Does the Veteran have or has the Veteran ever had a liver condition?
  • 1C. Select diagnoses associated with the claimed condition(s) (check all that apply): Hepatitis A — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Hepatitis B — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Hepatitis C — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Autoimmune hepatitis — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Drug induced hepatitis — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Cirrhosis of the liver — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Primary sclerosing cholangitis — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Primary biliary cirrhosis — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Liver abscess — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Liver transplant — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Liver cancer — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Hemochromatosis — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Wilson's disease — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Other diagnosis #1 — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Other diagnosis #2 — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. Other diagnosis #3 — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1D. If there are additional diagnoses that pertain to liver conditions, list using above format:
  • 1E. Remarks:
MEDICAL HISTORY (Section II)
  • 2A. Describe the history (including onset and course) of the Veteran's liver condition(s) (brief summary):
CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE WITHOUT CIRRHOSIS (INCLUDING HEPATITIS) (Section III)
  • 3A. Does the Veteran have or has the Veteran ever had signs or symptoms attributable to chronic or infectious liver disease?
  • Previous history of liver disease
  • Asymptomatic
  • Fatigue — If checked, indicate frequency: Intermittent / Daily
  • Malaise
  • Anorexia
  • Hepatomegaly
  • Pruritus
  • Arthralgia
  • Causing weight loss — If checked, provide baseline weight and current weight
  • Substantial weight loss (involuntary loss greater than 20 percent of an individual's baseline weight sustained for three months with diminished quality of self-care or work tasks)
  • Minor weight loss (involuntary weight loss between 10 and 20 percent of an individual's baseline weight sustained for three months with gastrointestinal-related symptoms, involving diminished quality of self-care or work tasks, or decreased food intake)
  • Requiring continuous medication (other than parenteral antiviral therapy or parenteral immunomodulatory therapy) — If checked, list medication / date treatment started / Date of completion of medication or anticipated date of completion
  • Requiring parenteral antiviral therapy — If checked, indicate date treatment started / Date of completion of medication or anticipated date of completion
  • Requiring parenteral immunomodulatory therapy — If checked, indicate date treatment started / Date of completion of medication or anticipated date of completion
  • Other signs or symptoms, describe:
  • 3B. Is treatment medically contraindicated for both parenteral antiviral therapy and parenteral immunomodulatory drugs? If yes, explain.
CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER (Section IV)
  • 4A. Does the Veteran have cirrhosis of the liver?
  • 4B. Is treatment medically contraindicated for both parenteral antiviral therapy and parenteral immunomodulatory drugs?
  • Asymptomatic but with a history of liver disease
  • Resolved following liver transplant
  • Weakness
  • Generalized weakness
  • Malaise
  • Daily fatigue
  • Anorexia
  • Abdominal pain
  • Continuous daily debilitating symptoms (describe in comments section)
  • Splenomegaly
  • Ascites (fluid in the abdomen)
  • Coagulopathy
  • Portal hypertension
  • Portal gastropathy (if checked, date(s) of episode(s) in past 24 months) Date(s):
  • Hepatic encephalopathy (if checked, date(s) of episode(s) in past 24 months) Date(s):
  • Hepatopulmonary syndrome
  • Hepatorenal syndrome
  • History of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
  • Variceal hemorrhage (if checked, date(s) of episode(s) in past 24 months) Date(s):
  • Other signs or symptoms, describe:
  • 4C. Is there a MELD score available? — MELD Score / Date / Source:
LIVER ABSCESS (Section V)
  • 5A. Does the Veteran have or has the Veteran ever had, a liver abscess caused by bacterial, viral, amebic, fungal or other agents?
  • If yes, what date was the abscess diagnosed?
  • Comments:
LIVER TRANSPLANT (Section VI)
  • 6A. Is the Veteran eligible for transplant surgery?
  • Date medical evidence shows that a physician determined that the Veteran was eligible for transplant surgery:
  • 6B. Is the Veteran awaiting transplant surgery?
  • 6C. Has the Veteran undergone transplant surgery?
  • Date(s) of transplant surgery:
  • Date(s) of hospital admission:
  • Date(s) of hospital discharge:
  • Current signs and symptoms:
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING (Section VII)
  • 7A. Have clinically relevant diagnostic imaging studies or other diagnostic procedures been performed or reviewed in conjunction with this examination?
  • EUS (Endoscopic ultrasound) — Date / Results:
  • ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) — Date / Results:
  • Transhepatic cholangiogram — Date / Results:
  • MRI or MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) — Date / Results:
  • Computed Tomography (CT) — Date / Results:
  • Ultrasound — Date / Results:
  • Other, describe: — Date / Results:
  • 7B. Have clinically relevant laboratory studies been performed or reviewed in conjunction with this examination?
  • Recombinant immunoBlot assay (RIBA) — Date / Results:
  • Hepatitis C genotype — Date / Results:
  • Hepatitis C viral titers — Date / Results:
  • AST — Date / Results:
  • ALT — Date / Results:
  • Alkaline phosphatase — Date / Results:
  • Bilirubin — Date / Results:
  • INR (PT) — Date / Results:
  • Creatinine — Date / Results:
  • Other, describe: — Date / Results:
  • 7C. Has a liver biopsy been performed? — Date of test / Results:
  • 7D. Are there any other clinically relevant diagnostic test findings and/or results related to the claimed condition(s) and/or diagnosis(es), that were reviewed in conjunction with this examination? — If yes, provide type of test or procedure, date and results (brief summary):
  • 7E. If any test results are other than normal, indicate relationship of abnormal findings to diagnosed conditions:
TUMORS AND NEOPLASMS (Section VIII)
  • 8A. Does the Veteran currently have, or has had, a benign or malignant neoplasm or metastases related to any condition in the diagnosis section?
  • 8B. Is the neoplasm: Benign / Malignant
  • If malignant: Active / In remission
  • If malignant: Primary / Secondary (metastatic) (if secondary, indicate the primary site, if known):
  • 8C. Has the Veteran completed treatment or is the Veteran currently undergoing treatment for a benign or malignant neoplasm or metastases?
  • Treatment completed
  • Surgery — If checked, describe / Date(s) of surgery:
  • Radiation therapy — Date of most recent treatment / Date of completion of treatment or anticipated date of completion:
  • Antineoplastic chemotherapy — Date of most recent treatment / Date of completion of treatment or anticipated date of completion:
  • Other therapeutic procedure — If checked, describe procedure / Date of most recent procedure:
  • Other therapeutic treatment — If checked, describe treatment / Date of completion of treatment or anticipated date of completion:
  • 8D. Does the Veteran currently have any residuals or complications due to the neoplasm (including metastases) or its treatment, other than those already documented in the report above? — If yes, list residuals or complications (brief summary):
  • 8E. If there are additional benign or malignant neoplasms or metastases related to any of the diagnoses in the diagnosis section, describe using the above format:
OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND SCARS (Section IX)
  • 9A. Does the Veteran have any other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs or symptoms related to the conditions listed in the diagnosis section above? — If yes, describe (brief summary):
  • 9B. Does the Veteran have any scars or other disfigurement of the skin related to any conditions or to the treatment of any conditions listed in the diagnosis section?
  • 9C. Comments, if any:
FUNCTIONAL IMPACT (Section X)
  • 10A. Regardless of the Veteran's current employment status, do the conditions listed in the diagnosis section impact his/her ability to perform any type of occupational task (such as standing, walking, lifting, sitting, etc.)?
  • If yes, describe the functional impact of each condition, providing one or more examples:
REMARKS (Section XI)
  • 11A. Remarks (if any - please identify the section to which the remark pertains when appropriate):

Rating Levels for DC 7345

The following tiers are reproduced from 38 CFR Part 4, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Toggle between the official VA criteria and a Plain English explanation.

Plain-English summaries are AI-generated to explain the official criteria. The official 38 CFR language is the binding legal standard. When in doubt, ask a VSO.

Evidence cited in published BVA decisions for DC 7345

The counts below are aggregated from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Each row reports how often a given evidence type was discussed in the decision text, broken down by outcome. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not a prediction or recommendation about any specific claim.

  • VA examination: appeared in 11 granted decisions (10 denied, 10 remanded; 31 total)
  • Private medical opinion: appeared in 9 granted decisions (1 denied, 2 remanded; 12 total)
  • Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 3 granted decisions (1 denied, 2 remanded; 6 total)
  • Nexus letter: appeared in 2 granted decisions (0 denied, 1 remanded; 3 total)
  • Medical literature: appeared in 2 granted decisions (0 denied, 0 remanded; 2 total)
  • Service treatment records: appeared in 0 granted decisions (0 denied, 3 remanded; 3 total)

What the Board discussed in granted decisions for DC 7345

The themes below were extracted by clustering 430 grant-factor sentences from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Frequencies indicate how often each theme appeared in the sample. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not advice or strategy for any specific claim.

  1. 21% Benefit of the doubt statutory standard cited
    The Board cited the legal standard that when evidence is in approximate balance on a material issue, the claimant must be given the benefit of the doubt under 38 U.S.C. § 5107(b) or equivalent regulation.
    89 of 430 sample sentences
  2. 17% Evidence found in equipoise, benefit of the doubt applied
    The Board found the evidence at least in relative equipoise on the specific issue before it and resolved that balance in the Veteran's favor to grant or support the claim.
    72 of 430 sample sentences
  3. 14% VA or private examiner nexus opinion noted as at least as likely as not
    A VA or private medical examiner provided a positive nexus opinion stating the Veteran's condition was at least as likely as not incurred in, caused by, or related to military service.
    62 of 430 sample sentences
  4. 13% Preponderance against claim, benefit of the doubt inapplicable
    The Board determined that the weight of the evidence was against the claim, making the benefit of the doubt doctrine inapplicable and requiring denial.
    55 of 430 sample sentences
  5. 9% Hepatitis service connection evidence found in equipoise or supported
    The Board specifically found the evidence in equipoise or otherwise sufficient regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis (A, B, or C) was incurred in or related to active military service, warranting a grant of service connection.
    38 of 430 sample sentences
  6. 7% Examiner nexus question framed using at-least-as-likely-as-not standard
    A remand order or examination request directed an examiner to opine whether a current disability was at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) related to service or a service-connected condition.
    32 of 430 sample sentences
  7. 6% Equipoise standard explained, claimant prevails in either event
    The Board articulated the adjudication framework under which the claimant prevails when evidence supports the claim or is in relative equipoise, and is denied only when the preponderance is against the claim.
    24 of 430 sample sentences
  8. 4% Increased rating granted by applying benefit of the doubt
    The Board applied the benefit of the doubt to resolve conflicting or balanced evidence and assigned a higher disability rating percentage under the applicable diagnostic code.
    18 of 430 sample sentences
  9. 2% Negative examiner opinion noted but outweighed or in equipoise
    The Board acknowledged an unfavorable VA examiner opinion but found it was outweighed by or in equipoise with other evidence, supporting resolution of doubt in the Veteran's favor.
    10 of 430 sample sentences
  10. 2% Benefit of the doubt applied to specific rating period or effective date
    The Board applied the benefit of the doubt to determine the appropriate rating or effective date for a specific period within the appeal, finding the evidence sufficiently balanced to favor the Veteran.
    10 of 430 sample sentences
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Disclaimer: This page reproduces public Department of Veterans Affairs forms (DBQs) and verbatim text from 38 CFR Part 4 (the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities). It is informational only and is not legal or medical advice. For guidance on a specific claim, contact a VA-accredited representative.