Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and hepatitis C due to a December 2001 VA blood transfusion. The claims will be reviewed with additional evidence, including service treatment records from his second period of active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his residuals from gallbladder removal, including any hepatitis or appendix removal. The issue will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder). The decision found that new evidence did not establish a nexus to service in some cases.

The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during his active-duty service, and granted service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of hepatitis C is being remanded due to the VA examiner not considering his reported sexual behavior during service and the relevant medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg thrombophlebitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder, PTSD, and depression), bronchitis, Hepatitis C, and a separate right leg disability. The claim for increased rating for neck disability is also denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's liver cancer was caused by his hepatitis C, which he developed due to intravenous drug use. His service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute to the development of his alcoholism and subsequent liver cancer.

The Veteran's hepatitis C with cirrhosis was rated at 20 percent prior to June 14, 2013 and remains rated at 20 percent from June 14, 2013 to March 31, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hepatitis C, prostate cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C during service and could not establish a nexus to service. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection based on herbicide exposure was denied due to lack of competent evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims are granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, and other conditions. The appeal is based on new evidence.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C has been rated at 20 percent since December 5, 2011. The rating was denied for periods from June 4, 2014 to July 13, 2015 and from July 14, 2015 onwards.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of mononucleosis and hepatitis have been denied as there is no current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right foot pes cavus has been denied.

The Veteran's hepatitis is found to be related to his service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for hepatitis.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis and a skin disorder, finding that the Veteran's current liver symptoms are not related to his in-service hepatitis or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C is found to be service-connected. The COPD, low back disorder, and bilateral ankle disorders are not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and clarification of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hepatitis C were denied, but he was granted a 100% disability evaluation for hepatitis C effective June 6, 2003.,Service connection for renal failure, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was also granted effective June 6, 2003.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and a left elbow condition, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, specifically visiting foreign ports or cutting his hand on a valve in the boiler room during service.