Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's diabetes and hepatitis are being evaluated for potential secondary service connection with other conditions.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination. A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for hepatitis C and for TDIU are being remanded to obtain additional medical records from SSA and VA.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of cirrhosis of the liver, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in service due to risk factors such as unprotected sexual intercourse and air gun injections during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis, left great toe injury, abrasions and lacerations to fingers of the left hand, left hand cold weather injury, lower back disability, and colonitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.,Service connection was not granted as the appellant's hepatitis is attributed to his own willful misconduct involving drug use. The other conditions were found not to be related to active duty service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to her withdrawal of those claims during a July 2019 hearing. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lower back disability, migraines, hepatitis C, and a bilateral hip disability due to conflicting evidence and lack of clear medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, epilepsy, obstructive sleep disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), hepatitis C, and hypertension. The claims were remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and hepatitis C due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations and provide additional information regarding his in-service stressors.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions, and thus remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the cause of his death.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C should be remanded due to a lack of medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. The Board finds the Veteran has current diagnoses of non-obstructive coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease, which are included under the definition of ischemic heart disease. Service connection for these conditions is granted as a result of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Other claims related to other disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to additional disability caused or aggravated by VA treatment in 2014, and for special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance or housebound level.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on exposure to human blood or bodily fluids and heroin use during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Hepatitis A and denied service connection for this condition. The Bilateral Hearing Loss claim is remanded due to insufficient nexus opinion.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis C and anemia, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hepatitis C due to a dishonorable discharge from active military service in December 1969.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service-connected PTSD, head and neck cancer, cirrhosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyperthyroidism, and depression. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.