Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and depression, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, Hepatitis B, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and a back disability due to the need for VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for hyperlipidemia as it is not a disability in and of itself. The claims for the remaining conditions are remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, SSA records, and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being added without a waiver of AOJ consideration.

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

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, headache disability, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and hypertension. However, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder, GERD, and granted an effective date of May 6, 2013 for a 60% rating for Hepatitis C. The claims were otherwise denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B and C, an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for postoperative residuals of December 1999 VA lumbar spine surgery due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II due to the need for new examinations.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating from 10 percent to 0 percent for the Veteran's right ulna disability was improper and restored the original 10 percent rating. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for cervical spine, right tibial plateau, and hepatitis C disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including an unspecified respiratory condition, Hepatitis C, Parkinson’s disease, aural fullness, chronic fatigue syndrome, residuals of gall bladder removal, and an unspecified mental condition. The decision also denied reopening of claims for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as there was no evidence linking the condition to service, and the Veteran's lay statements were not sufficient to establish a nexus between his in-service activities and his current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and flouroquinolone toxicity are remanded due to the need for medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for flouroquinolone toxicity is also remanded as VA treatment records prior to October 2003 and from May 2017 to present are needed, along with authorization for Dr. Nelson and Dr. Oppenheim’s records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C due to drug and alcohol dependency are remanded as VA medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions are required.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for drug and alcohol dependency is also remanded as a VA psychiatrist’s opinion on its secondary relationship to PTSD, low back disability, and flouroquinolone toxicity is needed.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 24, 2010, and in excess of 20 percent as of June 24, 2010, for a low back disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for compensation for hepatitis B, liver damage as secondary to hepatitis B, and a psychiatric disorder as secondary to hepatitis B have been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of additional disability resulting from the March 2004 colonoscopy at VA, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hepatitis B.

The Board has granted service connection for NASH, but remanded the cases of valvular heart disease and insomnia due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disability due to the need for additional evidence, including VA medical records and mental health treatment records.

The Veteran's skin disability, vertigo, hepatitis, and back disability are now service-connected with effective dates set at November 3, 2008.