Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for venereal disease, bilateral pes planus, hepatitis C, and dental condition due to lack of current diagnoses or persistent/recurrent symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as the appellant withdrew her appeal.,Service connection has been granted for the cause of the Veteran’s death, with PTSD being found to be a significant contributing factor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The claim for Hepatitis C was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, while the PTSD claim resulted in a 70% disability rating effective October 19, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bladder cancer is secondary to her service-connected hepatitis C, tender right ovary, and/or left cystic mastitis.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to provide requested information and complete a VA Form 9 within one year of being asked.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension to include aid and attendance and housebound benefits is denied as he does not meet the criteria for these benefits due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is not proximately due to or the result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing reasonable care. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any disability was proximately due to or the result of contaminated colonoscopy equipment provided by VA.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim has been reopened and granted. Service connection for prostate cancer and urinary condition is remanded.

The appeal for a back disorder is dismissed. The hepatitis C claim, along with its secondary claims for laparoscopic hernia repair, PTSD, and liver cancer, are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of residuals of an anal fissure, residuals of a hernia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), genital herpes, Hepatitis B, hypertension, headaches, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, and vestibular disorder have been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, allergies, bronchitis, and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to service. The claim for hepatitis C has been remanded due to the need for an opinion regarding herbicide exposure. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and/or depression) has also been remanded for a separate opinion on both PTSD and depression.,The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, allergies, bronchitis, hypertension, and irritable bowel condition have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to service. The claim for hepatitis C due to herbicide exposure has also been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and service connection for hepatitis C is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C. The claim for a low back condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of whether his conditions are related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, Hepatitis C, a skin rash in his groin area, amebiasis, and a skin rash on his right ankle due to insufficient medical evidence. The cases are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence and for consideration of his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and a compensable rating for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service disease or injury leading to current issues with depression, and that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA medical records and incomplete Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's cause of death is related to his service-connected disabilities, but there are questions about whether these conditions existed before or during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right lower extremity wound and hepatitis B has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, sleep apnea, a toenail fungus, GERD with constipation, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (anterior crural nerve), and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper and left upper extremities. The Veteran's claims for service connection were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.