Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's chronic hepatitis C is granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the period before September 26, 2017. For the period since September 26, 2017, a higher rating than 10 percent is denied. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has restored service connection for Hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, and chronic adjustment disorder. As a result, the grants of secondary service connection for these conditions, as well as entitlement to TDIU and Dependents’ Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 (DEA), are also restored.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and skin disability, finding that VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was granted with an effective date of April 16, 2014. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is one year prior to the date of receipt of the application (April 16, 2015), and denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for hepatitis C was denied, and his appeal for TDIU was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show incapacitating episodes or substantial weight loss due to hepatitis C, which are required for higher ratings under Diagnostic Code 7354.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's autoimmune hepatitis, which caused his death in September 2006, was related to service. As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Veteran's hepatitis C disability is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and cirrhosis of the liver due to insufficient evidence. The claims are not currently decided on service connection grounds.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and a liver disability as secondary to hepatitis C.,There is no direct evidence linking the Veteran's current hepatitis C or liver disability to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and a liver disability as secondary to hepatitis C.,There is no direct evidence linking the Veteran's current hepatitis C or liver disability to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected hepatitis C is dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for hepatitis C were dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left proximal hands. However, it has also remanded several issues related to shoulder disabilities, neurological disabilities, and carpal tunnel syndromes.,Service connection for hepatitis B is denied as there is no current disability at any time during the pendency of the appeal or shortly prior to filing the service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a right-hand disorder, liver condition (including alcoholic hepatitis), low back disorder, neck disorder, and left-hand disorder. The appeals were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of his VA medical records and consideration of the issues related to service connection, increased ratings, and effective dates.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to her death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been caused by his herbicide agent exposure in service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and cirrhosis of the liver are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, additional development is needed as there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, major depressive disorder, hepatitis C, and sleep apnea due to potential in-service causation or aggravation. The claim for TDIU is also remanded.