Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was not shown to be related to his military service.,His hepatic disorder, including hepatitis C and cirrhosis, did not manifest during or within one year after service and is not linked to any in-service event.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not granted service connection due to pre-service drug use or willful misconduct. The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is currently rated at 70% and has been since July 11, 2011.

The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to August 3, 2009 for service connection of hepatitis C. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is May 8, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and reopened the claim for hepatitis C, finding that new evidence supports reopening of the hepatitis C claim. The Veteran's PTSD is related to in-service personal assault events, while his hepatitis C may be related to service but requires further examination.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was determined to be a result of his illicit drug use, which was secondary to his service-connected PTSD. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol and cocaine use disorder. His hypertension is found to be secondary to his cirrhosis of the liver, while his chronic kidney disease is associated with his hypertension.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial rating for cirrhosis of the liver was granted at a 70 percent level, effective January 8, 2013. The initial rating for multilevel compression fractures of the low back was also granted at a 20 percent level, effective May 16, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of bilateral knee disability and psychiatric disability. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is denied as it did not result from VA care or treatment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations, as his last VA examinations were conducted in 2010 and 2011. The nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities are unclear from the current evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in, or caused by, her military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (manifested by depression and insomnia), and hypertension are not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other direct causation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen his claim and that the preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that his current hepatitis C is related to his in-service diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel and medical records, as well as a VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability. The Veteran's cause of death is being reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran is now entitled to increased ratings for his PTSD with alcohol abuse, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for the cause of death.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have hepatitis C related to his active service and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board denied service connection.,For the period prior to June 29, 2015, a rating of 10 percent for traumatic arthritis of the right knee is granted. After that date, a rating of 40 percent is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability is not warranted.,For the period prior to June 29, 2015, a rating of 10 percent for traumatic arthritis of the left knee is granted. After that date, a rating of 40 percent is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability is not warranted.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and TDIU is granted.