Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all his claims on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's liver disease, including cirrhosis of the liver and esophageal varices, is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his active military service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The issues of increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for hearing loss, and service connection for hepatitis C are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to additional development being needed on the claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The Veteran's representative referenced an article that needs to be provided, and if it is, a VA gastroenterologist or infectious disease specialist will provide an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's death pension and accrued benefits claim is being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of his U.S. Navy Reserve service and obtaining his medical records from Balboa Naval Hospital in 1979.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sarcoidosis and neuritis. The denial was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a positive nexus between the condition and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hepatitis C was incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hepatitis C disability is not related to his military service, specifically the use of air gun inoculations during service. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's hepatitis C was less likely than not incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver disease and secondary service connection for skin rash, bilateral elbow disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The case is remanded to schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's liver disease and whether any other disabilities are secondary to it.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The issues of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, hepatitis C, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, and an increased evaluation for PTSD are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected granulomatous hepatitis consistent with sarcoidosis with bilateral hilar adenopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current hepatitis C disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including referral to the Director of VA's Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU determination. The Veteran is seeking initial compensation ratings for her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service, granting her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was not granted any of these claims.

The Veteran's hepatitis B claim remains on appeal, and the TDIU claim is also pending. The Board has directed further development to be completed by the RO/AMC, including obtaining additional medical records, requesting information from the Veteran for any outstanding evidence, adjudicating the temporary total rating claim, and considering both claims together as they are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and adjudicative action due to a lack of clarity on whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service. The VA examiner will need to provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, specifically addressing his in-service high risk sexual practices.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating may be warranted. The TDIU claim is also pending.