Chronic Liver Disease

Chronic liver disease is marked by the gradual destruction of liver tissue over time. Several liver diseases fall under this category, including: cirrhosis and fibrosis of the liver. The main culprit for this disease can be blamed on alcohol. While there are other causes that can lead to chronic liver disease, alcohol is the main cause.

For this condition to be severe enough to meet the Social Security Administration's listing the claimant must have:

• Esophageal varices with documents indicating massive hemorrhage; OR
• Performance of a shunt operation for esophageal varices; OR
• Serum total bilirubin of 2.5 mg or greater that persists on repeated examinations for at least five months; OR
• Ascites, recurrent for at least 5 months demonstrated by abdominal paracentesis; OR
• Hepatic encephalopathy; OR
• Confirmation of chronic liver disease by liver biopsy.