Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him permanently bedridden or unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Veteran does not have a single service-connected disability rated 100 percent with separate service-connected disabilities ratable at 60 percent or more, nor is he permanently confined to his immediate premises as a result of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for tuberculosis, hepatitis, and sinusitis due to lack of service connection. The heart murmur claim was granted but later severed due to clear and unmistakable error. The Veteran's inguinal hernia and hemorrhoids were not rated as compensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not manifest within one year of separation from service and there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service, specifically air gun immunizations. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, hepatitis C, and liver damage due to inadequate development and compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not related to his active service, and concluded that it is more likely than not caused by his own IV drug use rather than any risk factors associated with his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C is granted, as the medical evidence supports a finding that he contracted hepatitis C during his military service. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of hepatitis B is remanded.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has not been shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7354, as there is no evidence of anorexia or incapacitating episodes lasting one week or more. As such, his claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a present disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied. The claim for hepatitis C was remanded but no further action could be taken due to lack of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the severity of his service-connected conditions and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a liver disability, claimed as secondary to hepatitis C, need further development due to insufficient evidence. The case is being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for hepatitis C prior to the Board's decision. The case is being remanded for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, arranging for examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and chronic hepatitis C infection, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board finds that hepatitis C is related to the Veteran's active service, including his blood transfusion and jet air gun injections. As such, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking to continue the appeal for an increased disability rating for hepatitis C, initially rated as 20 percent disabling. The case has been remanded due to procedural issues related to substitution and accrued benefits.

The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure, and found no need for further development or remand as the claim is being granted.

The Veteran's head injury in service resulted in an acquired psychiatric disorder, which is now considered a compensable rating for residual scarring over the right eyebrow. The Board also granted service connection for residuals of a head injury resulting in an acquired psychiatric disorder and polyneuropathy as secondary to the head injury.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's liver cancer, as it was not addressed in the July 2013 VA examination despite being related to military service and exposure to herbicide agents.