Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for gallbladder condition, hepatitis C, liver disease, and stomach disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior VA examinations. The claims are now before the Board again.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and a psychiatric disability, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The claims for service connection for a right knee condition, an ankle condition, and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for a left knee condition is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information on whether the Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disability are related to service. The issues of service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, secondary to hepatitis C, are intertwined.

The Veteran's hepatitis C disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it began during active service or is related to an incident of service, including the vaccination process where needles may not have been cleaned properly.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chest disability. The claims for service connection for COPD, sleep apnea, hepatitis C, depression, loss of balance, sinusitis, upper extremity numbness, chest numbness, and increased ratings for a ventral hernia and surgical scar are remanded.

The Board denied claims for service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's hepatitis C is linked to post-service risk factors such as intranasal cocaine use and tattoos. Cirrhosis is found to be secondary to hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened, and the claim is granted. The claims for service connection for tinnitus, migraine headaches, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all denied.

The Board denied service connection for left eye disorder, tinnitus, hepatitis C, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no competent medical evidence to support the Veteran's claims.,Service connection could not be established because there were no in-service incurrences or manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requests for an addendum opinion from a different examiner regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Hepatitis C, ED as secondary to PTSD, and an increased rating for PTSD due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are also remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus is denied.,All other issues are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's polyarthritis associated with chronic Hepatitis C is rated at a 20 percent disability level, effective from the date of her claim in April 23, 2008. An earlier effective date prior to this date is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to liver failure and renal failure, which the Board has remanded for further clarification on their etiology. The service connection claim for diabetes mellitus II remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, vasculitis secondary to hepatitis C, chronic renal insufficiency secondary to hepatitis C, and hypertension secondary to chronic renal insufficiency. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating during the period on appeal, and therefore his claim for accrued benefits purposes is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's military service. The case was remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for amphetamine-induced anxiety disorder, left hip degenerative joint disease, and hepatitis C were granted. The new evidence submitted related to these conditions was sufficient to meet the criteria for reopening the claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, a seizure disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and right ear hearing loss. However, the evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was caused by blood transfusions for hemophilia treatment at VA facilities, and this event was not reasonably foreseeable. The Board found that the additional disability of hepatitis C is due to an unforeseeable event (blood transfusion) rather than negligence or fault on the part of VA.