Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for hypertension, hepatitis B, and migraine headaches have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically related to his exposure to blood during service, and thus grants service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, specifically his exposure during service and whether it is related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability, hepatitis B, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's statements regarding symptom onset will be considered along with any new evidence provided.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis. However, the Veteran does not currently have hepatitis, and there is no probative evidence of a current diagnosis of hepatitis. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hepatitis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The claim for hepatitis A was not reopened as new and material evidence did not meet the criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation of the Veteran's competency due to his history of substance abuse and mental health issues, including a traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of increased ratings for service-connected conditions and the issue of service connection for a dental condition are no longer before the Board.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and found no current right ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable.

The Veteran's hepatitis C with a history of hepatitis B is currently rated at 40 percent, which meets the criteria for this condition. The appeal for an increased rating beyond this level has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, specifically a private medical opinion from Dr. Cam regarding his hepatitis C and kidney stones.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and multiple other conditions, have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The AOJ has determined that she is entitled to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability.,Basic entitlement to non-service connected death pension benefits is denied.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and a dental disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for hepatitis A before the Board could issue a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is at least as likely as not incurred during service due to intravenous drug use (IVDU) associated with his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a result, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is granted.