Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, as it may be related to service. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a headache disability, sinus disability, eye disability, hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma due to unresolved issues regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for hepatitis C due to potential missing VA records and an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's fatty liver disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's marital status and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, lung cancer, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The decision found that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim for posttraumatic stress disorder. Lung cancer was denied as there was no current diagnosis or link to service. Hepatitis A and B were denied due to lack of a current disability. Hepatitis C was denied based on the absence of any exposure or antibodies.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of Hepatitis C because no new and material evidence was submitted, despite the Veteran's assertions about in-service exposure.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. As a result, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in December 2017 is incomplete and requires an addendum to consider both DSM-IV and DSM-V criteria for diagnosing PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorders. The issues of service connection for substance abuse, hepatitis C (as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), and hepatitis C (as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder and substance abuse) are also remanded due to their inextricable ties with the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder and residuals of hepatitis, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C, lumbosacral disc degeneration with narrowing, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD are all denied. The Veteran is not granted higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran may have had hepatitis C at any time during the claim or approximate thereto, and it is related to service. However, due to a lack of medical evidence on this issue, the case must be remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Hepatitis C and Sarcoidosis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions during service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and the medical opinion considered all possible risk factors and found no link to service.

The reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for Hepatitis C from 100 percent to 20 percent, effective February 1, 2015, was improper and the 100 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology, as the current evidence is insufficient to determine if they are related to her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to determine service connection for hepatitis C and a higher rating for CAD.

The Board denied a compensable initial rating for hepatitis C prior to May 20, 2016 and a rating in excess of 10 percent after May 20, 2016, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant such ratings based on VA examination reports and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for defective vision, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for PTSD effective October 27, 2003. Other claims remain pending.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.