Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is caused or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) traits, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, specifically due to exposure through the use of a jet injector gun for inoculation in service. As such, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and hepatitis C were previously denied, but new evidence was submitted after his death. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,Service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to hepatocellular carcinoma metastatic and hepatitis C virus infection is denied as none of his service-connected disabilities were a principal or contributory cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected bronchial asthma and hepatitis C, TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and SMC based on housebound status from August 1, 2009. Additional development is required in each case.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that the preponderance of evidence does not support a link between the condition and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C is denied as the evidence does not show daily fatigue or other symptoms warranting a higher rating. The effective date for VA compensation benefits for hepatitis C predicated upon the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 remains October 31, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to insufficient evidence of total disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations. The issues include tinea corporis, diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, liver condition (including cirrhosis), and Barrett's esophagus.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for Hepatitis C and an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD are remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a more contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for hepatitis and for service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence that an increase in disability occurred within one year prior to September 17, 2011.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for hepatitis C and PTSD, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is denied for shin splints.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol and knee disabilities, due to lack of evidence establishing a current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and special benefits are being remanded due to the need for further examinations and evaluations. The issues include diabetes mellitus, its associated peripheral neuropathies and vascular disease, liver cirrhosis or hepatitis C, hypertension secondary to diabetes, PTSD, and homebound status.

The Veteran's liver condition and hepatitis C are remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service, specifically antibiotic treatment for strep D during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was reopened and denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between his in-service occurrence of hepatitis B and his current diagnosis of hepatitis C, thus denying service connection. The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 were also denied as there was no medical evidence showing VA carelessness or negligence caused the cancer.

The Veteran's bilateral dry macular degeneration is not presumed to have been incurred in service and was not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury.,The Veteran does not have trench foot (claimed as athlete’s foot) at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and chronic fatigue syndrome have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board finds that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current hepatitis C and liver disability and his service, including the use of jet injectors for vaccinations. The preponderance of the medical evidence does not support this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hepatitis disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to his military service.