Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, total colectomy with end ileostomy, CMV, and NASH as secondary to his service-connected ulcerative colitis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's diagnosis of hepatitis B.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis A and hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits documents. The case will be remanded to allow for these actions.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was found to have manifested in service and is attributable to service, granting service connection for the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, allergies, hepatitis, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hepatitis C was not incurred during service and is more likely related to post-service drug use, specifically intravenous drug use and cocaine through the nasal passages. As a result, the claim for service connection for the residuals of hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents, but denied service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 70% rating for PTSD and dismissed the claim for memory loss as it was part of the service-connected PTSD. The other claims, including those related to hepatitis C and left knee disorder, were also denied.

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

The Veteran withdrew his service connection claims for stomach ulcers and hepatitis C during the August 2017 hearing.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C cirrhosis, which the Board found were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the earliest date of entitlement was January 31, 2011.,VA regulations do not allow for an earlier effective date for hepatitis B as it did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation prior to January 31, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's urological condition (iatrogenic hypospadias) and denied service connection for Hepatitis C and hypertension. The urological condition is considered a direct result of in-service medical procedures, while there is no evidence to support service connection for Hepatitis C or hypertension.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was manifested by fatigue, mild stomach pain, and a slight decrease in appetite prior to February 5, 2010. The criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran's dermatophytosis, which covers approximately 20-40 percent of his body during flare-ups, warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent.,VA medical evidence does not support service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to have had its onset during his period of active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and hepatitis C. The lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are considered to be directly related to service based on the evidence provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and updated VA medical records.