Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's hypertension was granted an initial noncompensable evaluation.,Service connection for residuals of sinusitis surgery, bilateral earwax buildup and hepatitis A were denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and providing an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, hypertension (secondary to hepatitis C), and dysthymic disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and entitlement to an increased rating for his left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C does not warrant a compensable initial rating, and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, eye disability, and right arm muscle deterioration disability as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by chronic alcoholism with hepatic cirrhosis, which is not service-connected. The Board finds that the cause of death is not related to military service and does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was granted, and he received a 30 percent initial rating for his PTSD. The initial ratings for DM were increased to 20 percent from March 18, 2013, to May 31, 2016, and to 10 percent beginning June 1, 2016. Erectile dysfunction associated with DM was granted a separate compensable rating. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were all rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and plantar calcaneal heel spurs were denied. The Veteran was granted a compensable rating (level II) for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that there is no service connection for hepatitis C due to lack of a medical nexus opinion.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video-conference hearing due to his request and current circumstances.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The issue of entitlement to a compensable initial evaluation for dyshidrotic eczema is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, and thus no new and material evidence has been received.

The Board found no current diagnosis of hepatitis C in the Veteran's medical records, leading to a denial of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a clarifying opinion regarding secondary service connection and issuance of an SOC in the matters of an initial increased rating for hypertension and an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hepatitis C.,There is no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated as noncompensable prior to November 17, 2011, and as 20 percent disabling from that day forward. The Board found the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating at any time during this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing at the Cincinnati, Ohio, VA Medical Center. The issues include service connection for liver disorder and hypertension due to herbicide exposure, as well as an initial rating for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is found to be service-connected. The initial ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are granted, but with some issues still pending.