Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated at 20 percent prior to March 27, 2012. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for this condition. For prostatic urethritis, the Veteran is granted a 60 percent rating effective February 4, 2010 (the date of his reopened claim).

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective June 18, 2014 on an extra-schedular basis due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hepatitis (claimed as liver disorder), lung disorder, heart disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The decision found no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of hepatitis C.

The Veteran was not found to be permanently and totally disabled due to nonservice-connected disabilities from August 22, 2007, to September 29, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for higher ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder and foot disabilities. The TDIU claim was also denied as it pertained to a period prior to September 24, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for hypercalcemia, hepatitis C, a skin disability (dermatophytosis of the foot), left shoulder disability, allergic rhinitis, hyperparathyroidism, back disability, or sleep disorder. The evidence does not establish an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's causes of death (arrhythmia and cirrhosis) were not service-connected, or should have been service-connected, at the time of his death. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to toxic exposure during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis B likely began during his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's Hepatitis C is not related to his service, and the Board finds that there is no evidence linking his current condition to any incident of active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a disability associated with hepatitis B and an abdominal disability, including pancreatitis and kidney stones, finding that the evidence did not support such claims.,There is no current evidence of chronic hepatitis B or any other diagnosed abdominal disability related to service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, with service connection granted for both conditions.,High blood pressure has also been granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hepatitis C, a right eye disability, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a cervical spine disability that is related to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not originate in service or until many years after service and is not otherwise shown to be related to service. The Veteran does not have an additional disability, specifically hepatitis C, that was proximately caused by any error in judgment, carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder and residuals of hepatitis have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic respiratory disability or cirrhosis, and therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death was granted in April 1986, effective from his separation date.