Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are both rated at their current levels, but he contends that they warrant higher ratings. The Board has remanded these issues for further development to obtain additional medical evidence and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C are remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided in December 2016 were inadequate and remanded for further development. The case is being returned to obtain an adequate opinion addressing the likely etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, including from the Miami VAMC in 1979.

The Veteran's hepatitis C treatment records from VA and private sources are not fully reviewed, so the Board is remanding to obtain these records.

The Board has decided that the claim of service connection for hepatitis C must be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for a new examination.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected cirrhosis of the liver, which is presumed for former POWs. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for hepatitis C and service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to his hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C have been remanded due to a lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and an enlarged liver as the evidence did not show a current disability or that any disability was related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disorder, hepatitis B and/or C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder with alcohol dependence) have been granted. The claim for a higher rating for hemorrhoids remains pending.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated as noncompensable due to the lack of active symptoms and medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for oriental cholangiohepatitis, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and noting that the service treatment records did not show any findings consistent with bacterial infestation or OCH. The medical opinions provided were considered insufficient to establish a link between the current condition and service.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C due to the Veteran's willful misconduct. The rating for tinnitus remains at 10 percent, as it is already the maximum allowed under VA regulations. The psychiatric disorder claim and hearing loss rating are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 13, 2010 for the award of special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran required regular aid and attendance from that date.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint pain, respiratory condition, sleep apnea, cirrhosis of the liver, headaches, and dementia.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and TDIU due to lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claim that his current diagnosis is related to in-service events.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current liver disorder, including hepatitis C and cirrhosis, is likely attributable to his service in the 1970s. The appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C and chronic liver disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or any medication taken for a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disability was reopened, and his hepatitis C rating was increased to 60 percent effective from the date of the examination. The Veteran had experienced incapacitating episodes lasting at least six weeks over the past year.