Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is for an increased evaluation of hepatitis C and a TDIU. The case has been remanded due to missing VA treatment records, the need for a new examination, and referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver is being remanded due to outstanding records and a need for a new VA examination. The examiner must consider the Veteran's reported in-service drug use, including IV drug use during Vietnam, as well as any other relevant factors.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to service-connected disability or otherwise etiologically related to his active military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that staphylococcal sepsis, cirrhosis, and GI bleeding were related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and new evidence needs to be obtained. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeals for whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for residuals of hepatitis and entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver have not resulted in sufficient symptoms to warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for malaria, hepatitis, a prostate condition, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or link these conditions to service.

The Veteran's marginal zone lymphoma is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for Hepatitis C remains pending.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and bilateral knee disorder are not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a risk factor for contracting hepatitis C related to his in-service vaccinations, and thus denied service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and denied both his claim for service connection and his TDIU claim due to anxiety disorder.

The Board has ordered remand to obtain additional medical opinions and compliance with prior remand instructions. The appeal will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by the Veteran.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his service-connected throat cyst removal surgery and hepatitis C has been denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has service connection for polysubstance abuse secondary to his PTSD. His hepatitis-C and cirrhosis of the liver are also found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected polysubstance abuse disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and assigned a 50 percent rating for esophageal stricture. The claim for an initial compensable rating for GERD prior to May 26, 2017 is dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, reopening the claim and finding that it was incurred in service. The other claims remain pending as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's hepatitis B condition is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no credible evidence of Agent Orange exposure, and the conditions claimed are not shown to be related to his active military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, and thus denied the claim.