Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and hepatitis C have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no causal link between his service-connected conditions and his underlying cause of death (hepatocellular carcinoma).

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew all pending claims except for the claim of dependency.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC on the basis of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, an enlarged liver, and depression are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for back disability has been reopened and is granted. The claims of service connection for hepatitis C and TDIU are deferred pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the case due to an intertwined service connection claim for a psychiatric disability. The lower abdominal disability claim will be deferred until that claim is adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, hepatitis C, and major depressive disorder are service-connected. The Veteran is assigned a 70 percent rating for his major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for hepatitis C. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board finds that none of his conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service. The cause of death was determined to be hepatitis C resulting in acute renal failure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis C as a result of treatment at a VA medical facility in February and March 2000.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Hepatitis, Cirrhosis, and Hernia, led to medical emergencies in December 2013 and November 2014. The Board found that the conditions were severe enough to warrant immediate treatment, and that no VA facilities were feasibly available for timely treatment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service. The uterine fibroids that led to her hysterectomy are considered a separate disability from those noted during service. Chest pain is determined to be a chronic condition not related to the Veteran's service-connected GERD or other disabilities. Drug-induced hepatitis and/or hepatotoxicity is found to be secondary to medication for hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection. The hypertension claim is also denied as there is no evidence of its onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C were denied. The Veteran was not granted any higher initial or staged ratings.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during his active service, and the Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding medical records and examinations.

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