Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2006 and diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found no evidence of service connection for either condition, as the diagnoses were not related to active duty or any claimed in-service risk factors.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain missing treatment records and to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's current conditions and her service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for certain conditions, including acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorder, hiatal hernia, and kidney stones. The Veteran's claims are based on undiagnosed illnesses related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's incarceration and unavailability, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The appeal is currently in abeyance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hepatitis C is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's autoimmune hepatitis was rated at 30 percent, and the claim for an increased rating is granted. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a Statement of the Case and readjudication of the claims on appeal, including whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling conflict with his employment, and he has requested rescheduling of the video-conference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his service or any service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service, including any contaminated vaccinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hepatitis-C, disability of the feet to include bilateral athlete's foot, and right hand/thumb disability were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance of another due to his disabilities, including from his back disorder and left ankle fracture.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C and remanded other claims on appeal. The effective date remains to be determined.

The Veteran's right foot injury is currently rated at 20 percent, effective February 6, 2013. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cirrhosis of the liver remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his hepatitis C and right ankle disability are related to service.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis during service and denied the claim.,Service connection for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease was also denied, with the Board finding that it is less likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Social Security Administration and verifying the Veteran's exposure to hepatitis C during service. The examiner will provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran contracted hepatitis C during active service and if so, whether it caused or aggravated his death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, including an examination to address whether his current condition is related to presumed herbicide exposure during service.