Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2017

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain his SSA records and provide addendum opinions regarding the etiology of his cardiac disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's hepatitis C with ascites is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder and a back disorder, both of which were attributed to radiation exposure during the Veteran's active duty. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's liver disease, including cirrhosis of the liver, liver transplant, and terminal cancer, was not caused by VA treatment. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a finding that VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill contributed to the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis was denied, but his claims for PTSD and aortic valve stenosis were granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in the VA's duty to assist and potential errors in a previous decision.

The Veteran's liver disorder and diabetes mellitus did not manifest in service, were not continuous since service, were not shown to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, and are not etiologically related to his active service.,Service connection for the Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver was denied as it is not etiologically related to his active service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was also denied as it is not secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and any outstanding VA treatment records. They are also asked to provide a medical opinion regarding whether hepatitis C, which was diagnosed in the early 1990s, is related to active duty or contributed to the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is currently rated at 60 percent, effective January 6, 2017. The rating reflects daily fatigue and nausea with six weeks or more of incapacitating episodes during the past year.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C and psychiatric disorder were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during his military service. The Board concluded that these conditions are more likely related to post-military life stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete STRs and for a medical opinion regarding hypertension. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, hepatitis C, and hypertension are all at issue.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis B and malaria have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions, and the service connection theories do not meet the criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically related to his active military service, and as such, grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and Hepatitis C due to new evidence. However, it denied these claims as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.