Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his history of substance use and/or abuse.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim, but further development is needed before a decision can be made on whether service connection should be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and for a VA examination. The claims of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, hepatitis C, and psychiatric disorder are all pending.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, stomach bleeding, fatigue, hepatic encephalopathy, and esophageal varices are inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection. The case is REMANDED to obtain VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of each condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cirrhosis, including obtaining records from his phone company and VA medical center. The Veteran was exposed to carbon tetrachloride during service but there are conflicting opinions on whether this exposure caused his condition.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C and alcohol abuse, as well as their relationship to his service-connected PTSD. The appellant will also be provided an opportunity to identify any healthcare providers who treated her husband for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim remains before the Board for appellate review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of consideration of relevant medical evidence and an incomplete VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claims of service connection for the residuals of hepatitis and a headache disability, as well as for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder, right tibia disorder, and hepatitis C. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and service connection for PTSD, hypertension, peptic ulcer disease, and hepatitis C.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for hepatitis A, tinea versicolor, right foot arthritis, left ankle injury residuals, and PTSD were withdrawn. The Veteran was granted service connection for hypertension and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation. His initial ratings for PTSD and right shoulder dislocation residuals with degenerative changes have been increased to 70% and 30%, respectively.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically related to his in-service risk factors, including exposure to air guns and sharing razors. As a result, service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his active duty service, particularly air jet injector inoculations. The claim for a psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred coincident with or related to his active duty service.

The Board found no evidence of a liver disability related to service or service-connected conditions, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of hepatitis C, residuals of a stroke, cervical spine disability, and psychiatric disability. The Board does not have jurisdiction to decide these matters.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C and resulting cirrhosis do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there were no incapacitating episodes or objective findings of malaise, anorexia, hepatomegaly, or minor weight loss attributable to the conditions. The effective date for the award of a 20 percent disability evaluation is granted as December 16, 2008.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise on whether the Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service. Service connection for both conditions is granted.