Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including a need for VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of chronic Hepatitis C is being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding its etiology. The VA examiner needs to consider all available information, including the Veteran's statements about his military service and any potential exposure.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus type II have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service. The Veteran will need to provide updated information about his in-service activities and VA will obtain relevant records.

The Board dismissed the appeals to reopen service connection for various conditions and denied claims of service connection due to lack of notification from the appellant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a liver condition and hepatitis A and B, finding that there is no evidence of a currently diagnosed disability. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current condition was incurred during his active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, liver disability (including hepatitis C), right ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, and cervical spine disability, are remanded due to missing records and incomplete treatment information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma (claimed as liver cancer) have been reopened. The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the claims.,The Veteran is to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the etiology of any hepatitis infection, and if service connection for hepatitis is established, whether his hepatocellular carcinoma was caused or aggravated by the hepatitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report for a VA examination, which was required by the Board in March 2018. The dental treatment issue has also been remanded.

The Veteran's hepatic steatosis and hepatitis B were not found to be related to his service at Camp Lejeune, as the medical evidence did not support a connection between his active duty and these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus type II, as secondary to hepatitis C. The Veteran's costochondritis is rated with a 10% disability rating.

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

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for various conditions due to unclear dates and nature of the Veteran's military service. The case will be returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that his exposure to blood and excrement during service constitutes a direct link to his condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and for accrued benefits due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as insufficient financial information provided by the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C, gout, generalized arthritis, a left knee disorder, a skin disorder, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to exposure to herbicides and/or asbestos. The Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is not supported by evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including Meniere's syndrome, edema of the bilateral upper extremities, hepatitis C, trichinosis, dermatitis of the fingernails, and short-term memory loss. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B was denied because he does not have a current diagnosis of active hepatitis B infection. His claim for an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes MDD, PTSD, and panic disorder, is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hepatitis C was dismissed due to his death.