Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with examinations to evaluate his service-connected hepatitis C and PTSD. The TDIU claim may also be affected by these developments.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure. The claim for Hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of hepatitis C, including a request for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining military personnel records and a VA medical opinion regarding whether hepatitis B was related to service and contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was granted effective November 1, 2006. The effective date is the later of the date of claim or when entitlement arose.

The Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disabilities, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (Neurocognitive disorder) have been denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.,Service connection has been granted for Neurocognitive disorder due to a history of head injury during service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, liver disability (to include cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C), osteoporosis of multiple joints, residuals of a nephrectomy, and residuals of an appendectomy as they were not incurred or related to service.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection, including his exposure to Agent Orange. The issues of radiculopathy in the bilateral upper extremities, rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis B, tinnitus, and depression are all pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C and liver transplant are not related to his active service, with the exception of a possible connection to IV drug use during service. The Board denied both claims due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, PAD, and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The effective date is not specified as the claim was reopened.

The Veteran's liver cirrhosis, post-liver transplant, was rated at 100% from October 2, 2009 to April 1, 2012. The reduction to 30% effective April 1, 2012 is upheld as the evidence shows improvement of his disability.

The Veteran is seeking to have his rating for infectious hepatitis reduced from 10% to 0%, effective April 1, 1975. He also seeks an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for primary biliary cirrhosis with Hepatitis A is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for PTSD and hepatitis C, as well as his TDIU claim, are all denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show intermittent fatigue, malaise, or anorexia due to hepatitis C infection, which is required for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for multiple myeloma was dismissed as he withdrew his claim.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his service, specifically the air-gun inoculations he received in service. The most likely etiology for the Veteran's hepatitis C was his history of intravenous drug use after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B, finding no current disability and concluding that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of hepatitis B.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim was not granted, but he received a combined rating of 10% for his right knee disability due to pain and instability.

The Board dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for a skin disability due to withdrawal. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hepatitis, and right toe disability were denied as new and material evidence was not received.