Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides, and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hepatitis B, and bilateral pes planus in August 2007. The RO has since reopened the claim for hepatitis B but denied it again due to lack of new and material evidence. The issue of service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his intravenous drug use during active service, and as such, he is barred from establishing service connection for this disability due to willful misconduct. The arthritis of the right ankle did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an unspecified virus, claimed as malaria and/or hepatitis, and a stomach disorder, claiming it is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been decided. The grant of CAD, TDIU, and DEA benefits are upheld with the effective dates set at November 9, 1999. However, the reduction in rating for left lower extremity neuropathy is found to be proper.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for Hepatitis C and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded to schedule a VA examination to determine if the current diagnosis of Hepatitis C had its onset during or is related to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board found that hepatitis C with peripheral neuropathy was not due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for autoimmune hepatitis, finding that there was no evidence of a link between his military service and his condition. The Board also found that the Veteran's autoimmune hepatitis was not secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion, as well as additional development of the record.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence linking his myelodysplasia and cirrhosis of the liver to service, including exposure to benzene or other chemicals.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been manifested by some weight loss and right upper quadrant pain, but no evidence of anorexia or near-constant debilitating symptoms. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining information about the Veteran's income and seeking any relevant SSA records. A VA examination is also needed to assess his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and for an earlier effective date for a TDIU rating, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his in-service exposure and the development of the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of the claims regarding hepatitis C and liver cancer.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his active military service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is now granted. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ischemic heart disease are also found to be related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether he had tinnitus, and granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection for PTSD was granted effective August 13, 2012, which is also the earliest available effective date for SMC based on housebound status.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records related to a right hip injury and the need for additional information from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.