Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic sinusitis, hepatitis C, a genitourinary condition, and dental pain due to unclear service records. The Veteran's periods of active duty need to be verified.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the death of the Veteran, and requests that the appellant clarify whether she wishes to proceed as a substitute claimant or for accrued benefits purposes. The appellant is also requested to provide any additional evidence pertinent to her claims.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims for Hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including disc disease, is denied because the condition did not manifest during service and there is no evidence of an in-service injury or event. The current condition is related to post-service injuries.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has not manifested daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia with substantial weight loss and hepatomegaly; or experienced any incapacitating episodes of hepatitis C totaling a duration of at least six weeks during any 12-month period. Therefore, the claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for hepatitis C is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused or contributed to by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking the causes of death (acute renal failure, alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatorenal syndrome, end stage renal disease) to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered after all necessary development is completed.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, knee scars, left ankle disability (secondary to knee disability), bilateral vision loss, and hepatitis due to incomplete service treatment records and unobtained post-service medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service-connected PTSD, as he used drugs like cocaine during service. The Board granted service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's death was due to his service-connected PTSD, which caused cirrhosis of the liver. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for residuals of hepatitis because no new and material evidence was submitted to establish a chronic or continuous disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain the Veteran's full service department records, which may contain information relevant to his claim for hepatitis C.

The Board has restored a 20 percent disability rating for the service-connected lumbar spine disability and denied an increased rating for hepatitis C.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis C as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in hepatitis C and residual painful scars disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and evaluations in excess of certain percentages for various conditions, as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for chloracne and remanded the claims of hepatitis C and hair loss due to exposure to herbicides. The decision on these issues is pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction (vasectomy), Hepatitis C and a liver disorder, thigh scarring as secondary to Hepatitis C, scars from injections associated with Hepatitis C, headaches including migraines, and a cognitive disorder to include Alzheimer's disease. The appeals are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's death was caused by end-stage cirrhosis of the liver, which is unrelated to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's eye condition, bilateral hearing loss, and infectious hepatitis have been denied as there is no evidence of additional disability caused by VA care or treatment.,VA has determined that the Veteran did not sustain an additional disability due to negligence or error on the part of VA in providing medical care.