Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2015

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and hepatitis B, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, liver disease, neuropathy, and skin cancer. The appeal is mixed as some issues are granted while others are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis associated with hepatitis C are being remanded to allow for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia. The claim for hepatitis C was denied.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and hepatitis C are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hemorrhoids, arthritis of the hands and cervical spine and side-effects of medicine (formerly claimed as osteopathic conditions and side-effects of medicine), diverticulitis, herniated esophagus, bilateral cataracts, presbyopia, and thin spots in the retina, hepatitis, umbilical and groin hernias, impotence, allergies, neurological bladder disease, edema of the lower extremities, residuals of a head injury, sexually transmitted disease, residuals of a throat trauma, hypothyroidism, memory loss, benign prostatic hypertrophy. The Veteran's currently diagnosed bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified are etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during service, and therefore grants service connection for hepatitis C. The issue of secondary service connection for rheumatoid arthritis remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not causally related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and Hepatitis C were denied. The claim for TDIU was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's death was not due to his service-connected PTSD, and the evidence does not support a finding that his liver cirrhosis was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver with portal hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his left knee disability and residuals of pneumonia.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service, specifically presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and anemia were denied as there is no evidence of active or chronic hepatitis C, and the Board finds that service connection is not warranted. The claim for anemia was also denied due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not manifest within one year of service and is not related to his active duty service, specifically air gun immunizations. As such, service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis B and C, assigning an initial noncompensable rating. The Veteran's symptoms include daily fatigue, malaise, hepatomegaly, and weight loss of about 25 pounds over the past four years. These symptoms are considered to meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7354.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis A is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to his active duty. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The case is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions addressing the claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, hepatitis C, right leg disability, left leg disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.