Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2016

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, psychiatric disability including PTSD, low back disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claims were not substantiated by the evidence presented.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of hepatitis C and a psychiatric condition being related to service. The claim for hepatitis C was denied as there were no credible records indicating air gun inoculations during service, and the diagnosis was not linked to any in-service event or injury. For the psychiatric condition, while the Veteran has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, the evidence does not establish that it began during service or is related to a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The remaining claims are not currently before the Board.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his military service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the denial of service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether hepatitis C was incurred during service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C. The low back disability issue requires additional development as there are conflicting opinions on its etiology.

The Veteran's infectious hepatitis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his current symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C and its secondary effects on other conditions. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

Service connection for hepatitis C was denied.,A rating of 30 percent for PTSD prior to August 20, 2008, and a higher rating thereafter were granted.,The Veteran is entitled to TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to reschedule his Travel Board hearing due to the undeliverable letter informing him of the scheduled date. The case will be returned to the Board for further action after a new hearing is conducted.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has not been manifested by intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia; or incapacitating episodes with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain. Therefore, a higher initial compensable disability rating is denied.

The Veteran died from end stage liver disease, hepatitis C and cirrhosis. The Board found that these conditions were not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar arthritis, right hip arthritis, and Hepatitis C based on the evidence being evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and post-operative residuals of a right shoulder injury have been granted service connection. The rating for the right shoulder injury has not met the criteria for an increased rating beyond 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain missing service medical records, Social Security Administration (SSA) records, and laboratory test results for hepatitis C. The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the exact etiology is unclear.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran contracted hepatitis C during active duty due to a blood transfusion for a bleeding ulcer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current liver disability, diagnosed as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with cirrhosis, is causally related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and therefore grants secondary service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated at 20 percent prior to May 1, 2011, based on the presence of daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia requiring continuous medication.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C during service and concluded that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service, including exposure to blood from wounded soldiers. Therefore, service connection for hepatitis C was denied.