Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, including information about exposure to herbicide agents during active military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, low back disability, and right knee disability have been reopened. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received to support these claims.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis, but remands them due to insufficient evidence on their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout is denied as there is no evidence linking the current diagnosis to his military service.,Service connection for malaria is also denied due to a lack of medical records showing any in-service or recent diagnoses.,Hypothyroid disease was previously denied and new material evidence has not been submitted, so the claim remains denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder claim is reopened based on new evidence supporting its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for hepatitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis in the record.,Periodontitis was previously denied and no new material evidence has been submitted, so the claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion and a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death, end-stage liver failure due to hepatitis C, is considered service-connected for purposes of entitlement to dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits. However, the appellant was not owed any accrued benefits at the time of her husband's death as no monetary benefits were due based on his initial claim filed before he died.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver have not caused symptoms such as intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia, or any incapacitating episodes (with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain). As a result, a compensable initial evaluation is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and residuals of a liver transplant, finding that further examination is needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death. The Board also found that alcohol abuse did not warrant direct service connection.

The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression and a nervous condition is granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and enlarged liver with indicated fatty infiltration and cysts (claimed as cysts) are denied. The claim of service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disorder, a disorder of the left leg (including degenerative joint disease of the left hip), hepatitis C, and epididymitis due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left wrist degenerative arthritis, depression, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) lumbar spine with left leg radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that the Veteran's death was not related to his service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his in-service tattoos and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and Hepatitis C due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his service connection claims. The Veteran is seeking service connection for both conditions based on in-service noise exposure and immunization, respectively.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's alcohol dependence, hypertension, and liver disease (steatohepatitis) are all found to be secondary to his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The separate claim for an anxiety disorder is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C, PTSD, and an increased rating for anxiety disorder due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and a sleep disorder was granted effective May 1, 2013. The rating for tinnitus was also granted effective May 1, 2013. A 50 percent rating for PTSD is assigned.