Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to missing STRs from both periods of active duty.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for bilateral hearing loss, effective dates prior to July 9, 2012, for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis and coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability due to any chronic hepatitis infection. The claim for secondary service connection for coronary artery disease to include as due to hepatitis was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The appeals for increased ratings remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to unresolved issues with medical opinions, particularly regarding his gastrointestinal disability. The claims will be reconsidered in light of new evidence.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance since January 1, 2005 due to service-connected hepatitis C.

The appeal to reopen service connection for PTSD is dismissed as moot. New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for major depressive disorder, hepatitis C, left leg disability, right leg disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and TBI.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for Hepatitis C due to incomplete development of his claims. The Veteran was not provided with all necessary information regarding his in-service stressors and VA treatment records were not obtained.

The Veteran's appeal to deny service connection for Hepatitis C was denied due to the failure to timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year of the January 2016 rating decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hepatitis C, joint disease disability (secondary to hepatitis C), and hypertension claims should be remanded for further development as they are related to service. The TDIU, nonservice-connected pension, and SMP issues are also remanded due to their interrelation with the service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.,Your claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, hepatitis C, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder is being granted compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA failure to properly diagnose and treat his initial injury.,Compensation for hepatitis C is denied as there is no evidence that VA treatment caused any additional disability.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including service connection for sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, hearing loss, psoriatic arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), psoriasis and eczema, hepatitis C, colitis, celiac disease, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 1, 2000. The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is the primary issue in these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to potential issues with service connection, including a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the claims for hepatitis C, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hypertension, edema, loss of vision, rheumatoid arthritis, and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) are inextricably intertwined due to the relationship between these conditions and hepatitis C. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder (hepatitis C) and a bladder disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking any in-service disability to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of hepatitis C, finding that it was not related to his military service.