Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C was granted at a non-compensable rating prior to December 21, 2011. From that date forward, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied. The Board also found no basis for granting an extraschedular evaluation or TDIU based on his hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is pending and not decided.,The VA blood transfusion in December 2001 did not cause or worsen the Veteran's hepatitis C, as it was likely caused by his own drug use. The Veteran has been denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hepatitis C due to a December 2001 VA blood transfusion.,The Veteran failed to provide information about his former wife's income during the relevant period, resulting in denial of nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to March 1, 2007.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for hepatitis C and hypertension have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by the Veteran at a Board hearing.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether hepatitis C is etiologically related to the Veteran's receipt of air gun immunization injections in service, and thus grants service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar disc disease is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's hepatitis C to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that steatohepatitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a gastrointestinal disorder are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for both hepatitis C and a skin disorder to the RO for additional action due to inadequate assistance at an August 2012 hearing.

The Veteran's death was not due to a condition that pre-existed service or was incurred in or aggravated by service prior to August 13, 2002. The claim for REPS benefits is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees, finding that there is no evidence to support a secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denies the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a blood disorder, thrombocytopenia with pancytopenia and chronic cholelithiasis (anemia) was denied. The effective date of the award of service connection for alcoholic liver cirrhosis secondary to PTSD is fixed at June 1, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an evaluation of 10 percent or higher for his hypertension. For the other claims, the evidence does not support a finding that any of the claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that hepatitis C was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of cirrhosis of the liver, to include as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C, is remanded.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is found to be causally related to his military service and thus, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's liver disability is service connected and effective as of June 18, 2012.,Effective as of June 18, 2012, the Veteran was granted a 10% rating for his right shoulder condition. The effective date remains to be determined.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the claims for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination.