Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for Hepatitis C, Liver disorder (cirrhosis), and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeals for hepatitis C and hypertensive vascular disease have been dismissed. The appeal for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee, sarcoidosis, lung damage/bronchitis, congestive heart failure, and cirrhosis of the liver. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, lower back, upper back, and shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is not presumed to have hepatitis C or an eye disability related to his military service.

The application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a low back condition was denied. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and Hepatitis C were also denied, while service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional service medical records are needed to support the Veteran's claims for various conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to asymptomatic status, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran also meets criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, migraines, depression, and fatigue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver is related to his active service, including exposure to herbicide agents. A new medical opinion is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying his claimed exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The issues of service connection for PTSD, COPD, degenerative arthritis, eczematous dermatosis, GERD, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hepatitis C due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of all evidence, including the Veteran's assertions about in-service events.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C are all granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma in service which led to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for low back condition is not granted as the evidence does not show it began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for neck condition is not granted as there is no evidence showing a diagnosis prior to service.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease rating remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and hepatitis C. The decision also noted that the Veteran's pancreatitis claim is not addressed as it was not part of the original appeal.

The Veteran's liver disorder, including cancer and cirrhosis, is granted as service connected due to its onset during service or being related to diabetes. The issue of specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant is deferred pending the implementation of the grant.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the service-connected hepatitis C, finding that the condition was minimally symptomatic and did not impact the Veteran's ability to work.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability, and hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the claim for service connection for hepatitis C for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI and PTSD have been denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for hepatitis C has not been granted, as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an effective date earlier than August 11, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was dismissed as the appeal has been resolved. The claim of service connection for HCV is remanded due to insufficient evidence.