Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU from July 23, 2009 to August 10, 2012 and from August 10, 2012 due to a lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the Veteran retained the ability to work during these periods despite some limitations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Hepatitis C, which may have been incurred during an in-service hospitalization at Camp Lejeune, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a potential new evidence review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, to include residuals of hepatitis, is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the Board finds that a nexus between the current condition and service cannot be established.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis B and has denied service connection for this condition. Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's cause of death, cardiac dysrhythmia, was found to be related to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran had a combined rating of 70% at the time of his death and was in receipt of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). Service connection for cause of death is granted, but DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are denied due to lack of continuous total disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and hepatitis C due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected cirrhosis of the liver materially contributed to his death from probable vascular dementia, coronary artery disease, and atherosclerosis. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) and its impact on his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, sleep apnea, left leg disorder, right leg disorder, PTSD, and depressive disorder. The criteria for a higher rating were not met in any of these cases.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as he did not have any service-connected conditions at the time of his death. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was cirrhosis of the liver, which is attributed to alcoholism and not related to his military service.

Your case is being sent back to the agency for them to consider additional VA treatment records. They will then decide if you can reopen your claims for low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for liver conditions, including hepatitis C, and the cause of death due to hepatic failure and hepatocellular cancer. The decision is based on evidence that the Veteran's exposure to blood and bodily fluids during his military service in Vietnam was a likely cause of his hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of diabetes mellitus, type II; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis B; cholesterol disorder; kidney disorder; and thyroid disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the inability to schedule VA examinations. The issues of skin disorder of the feet, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective November 21, 2009. The Veteran's Hepatitis C remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, left hand disability, and left wrist disability have been shown to prevent him from obtaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is denied as the evidence does not show intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia or incapacitating episodes. The posttraumatic stress disorder claim is remanded for a VA examination to assess current severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic residuals of hepatitis is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development.