Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, low back disability, and tingling in the feet as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection could not be established because the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis or chronic condition during service or within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for migraine headaches was granted, and service connection for this condition is now established.,Service connection for major depressive disorder has been denied due to the lack of evidence showing an increase in severity since August 7, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected mental health conditions, including major depressive disorder and lumbosacral strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and the Veteran did not have a diagnosis during or recent to his claim.

The Board denied service connection for liver cancer, Hepatitis C, and liver disease as there was no current diagnosis of liver cancer and the diseases were not presumed due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C, arthritis, frostbite, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to hepatitis C. The claim of service connection for a disability of the back, legs, and hands is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for hepatitis C was established based on in-service diagnosis and current manifestations, with consideration given to risk factors such as jet gun inoculations and HAA+ hepatitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, finding no probative evidence of a current diagnosis related to active service.

The claim for hepatitis C service connection is not reopened.,The claim for PTSD service connection is remanded due to the need for further verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have onset during active service and was not caused by his active service.

The Veteran's cirrhosis was diagnosed in 2017, over fifty years after service. The Board found that the cirrhosis did not result from an in-service event and is not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his PTSD was related to a stressor during active service and contributed significantly to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis and remanded the issue of service connection for cholangiocarcinoma (claimed as liver cancer). The denial is based on a lack of evidence of current disability. Service connection for cholangiocarcinoma will be remanded to obtain a VA opinion regarding its etiology.

Service connection is granted for a right eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C. The right eye disorder is related to service due to trauma from boxing matches. Bilateral hearing loss is linked to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus is secondary to the Veteran's hearing loss. Hepatitis C is associated with in-service injections.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his claims for service connection are all granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected hepatitis C, finding that he was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been denied as new and material evidence was not received. The claims for PTSD, a separate acquired psychiatric disorder (to include schizophrenia), hypertension, and right-side paresis have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II, related to herbicide exposure in Thailand, has been reopened and granted. The claim for hepatitis B remains pending as new evidence supports reopening but the service connection is remanded.,The Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II was not present during his active duty service or within one year post-service, nor can it be linked to any other condition. However, he has provided credible testimony and supporting documentation indicating exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand.

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,An effective date of October 12, 2010 for the increased rating of hepatitis C has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet decided whether the evidence is sufficient to grant these claims.,Further development is needed to determine if there are any new and material pieces of evidence that could support the reopening of the claims.