Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but denied service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD and Hepatitis C.

The Veteran's HCV, bilateral hallux valgus, and LUE cubital tunnel syndrome were all granted service connection. However, the Veteran was denied higher initial evaluations for his HCV (currently rated 10%), right foot hallux valgus (rated 0%), left foot hallux valgus (rated 0%), and LUE cubital tunnel syndrome (rated 10%).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The appellant is seeking to substitute as the claimant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for liver disease, claimed as Hepatitis C, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (mood disorder, lumbosacral strain, migraines, hepatitis C, right and left foot bunions, and pes planus) do not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C was incurred during service, around the time he was diagnosed with hepatitis B in 1977.