Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Board denied a compensable rating for service-connected hepatitis, finding that the Veteran's condition was nonsymptomatic and did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated as noncompensable prior to April 20, 2016 and increased to 20 percent effective April 20, 2016. The Board found no higher ratings were warranted for the periods in question. Sleep apnea service connection is remanded due to lack of a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disabilities other than PTSD (depression and generalized anxiety disorder) due to a lack of contemporaneous records. The Veteran's service connection claims will be readjudicated after these examinations are completed.

The Board has denied claims for service connection for hepatitis C, substance abuse, and anti-social personality disorder. The claim for schizophrenia is remanded as the Veteran was not provided a Statement of the Case regarding this issue.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis, status post interbody fusion L5-S1 as the evidence did not show it began during service or was related to an in-service injury.,Service connection was also denied for neuralgia of the right lower extremity because there is no evidence that it began during service and is not otherwise related to a service-connected disability. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition may be due to his low back disorder, but this does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.,The claim for left lower extremity pain was denied as there is no current diagnosis of radiculopathy or evidence showing it began during service. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis and VA examinations found no signs of radiculopathy.,Service connection for hepatitis was denied because the condition did not manifest within one year after service, and there is no evidence linking it to contaminated water exposure from Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, hepatitis C, tension headaches (claimed as migraine headaches), and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include bipolar disorder and PTSD due to additional evidence being submitted since the last decision.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C and heart failure. The case is being remanded to consider the heart failure issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disability, hepatitis C, and migraines has been reopened. The rating for hepatitis C remains at 20 percent as the evidence does not support higher ratings due to lack of symptoms such as weight loss or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for throat cancer and hepatitis C. The cases are being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability is granted. The claims for increased rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for hepatitis C are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and for a right shoulder disorder under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to their interrelated nature, as well as the need for additional development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his Hepatitis C claim was denied, and the rating for his Generalized Anxiety Disorder was increased to 50%. The issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction (secondary to a service-connected disability) and reopening of the Hepatitis C claim are still pending.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and related liver infection residuals are granted service connection, as is his kidney disorder which is secondary to his hepatitis C. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a hepatitis disability and liver cancer as secondary to a hepatitis disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.,Both the hepatitis disability and liver cancer were determined not to be related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, primary insomnia (claimed as sleep disturbances), hepatitis B, and a dental condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran’s primary insomnia is aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus. A VA examination is also required to determine if the Veteran has a compensable dental disability related to his time in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis residuals, finding that there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis or its residuals and that the claimed condition is not related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has requested an expert medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for hepatitis C. The Veteran submitted additional lay evidence, and now requests that his case be remanded to the RO for consideration of this new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, OSA, and hepatitis B as they are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and denied initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.,The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a liver disability and hepatitis C, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.