Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a separate evaluation for cirrhosis is denied as the symptoms are indistinguishable from those of his service-connected hepatitis C. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for hepatitis C on an extraschedular basis is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for low back and bilateral foot disabilities, hepatitis A/B, and a psychiatric disorder. The claim for hepatitis A/B was reopened but the service connection remains denied.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for left knee disability and hepatitis (claimed as hepatitis B and D) have been reopened. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and peripheral neuropathy. The decision found no current diagnosis of hepatitis and that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, and various other conditions have been denied. The claim for joint pain, right knee condition, status post left leg fracture with pin placement, eye condition, sinusitis, acid reflux, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate, and athlete’s foot has also been denied due to lack of evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased rating for hearing loss and earlier effective date for TDIU due to incomplete development. The Veteran's claims will be further processed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for infectious hepatitis has been reopened and is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for allergies and cirrhosis of the liver. The decision on allergies was that they clearly existed prior to service and were not aggravated by military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to missing military personnel records and service treatment records, as well as proper notice regarding the DIC claim.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for hepatitis and impotency was denied as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,A new and material claim for a gastrointestinal disorder due to VA surgery has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of hepatitis A is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher than 10 percent rating before April 12, 2018 and a higher than 20 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and hearing loss service-connected conditions need to be re-evaluated due to recent assertions of increased severity. Updated VA examinations are required.

The Board denied the appeal for service connection for cause of death due to lack of a timely substantive appeal. The claim was reopened based on new and material evidence, but service connection could not be established as there was no in-service incurrence or medical nexus between any of the conditions that caused the Veteran's death and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right hip disabilities, heart condition, hypertension, Hepatitis C, residuals of stroke, numbness and claudication in all four extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, specifically his basic training. The SSA records are also requested as they may be relevant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C, which was caused by an accidental needle stick during service, substantially contributed to his liver failure and subsequent death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (optic neuropathy), sleep condition, hypertension, and cirrhosis of the liver have all been denied. The Veteran's PTSD claim was also denied prior to January 27, 2016, and from that date onwards.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hepatitis and eye condition as there are outstanding records that need to be obtained, including VA treatment records and private medical records. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has these conditions and whether they are related to his service.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including a nervous disorder), hypertension, Hepatitis C, and substance abuse. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver was denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his ventral hernia was also denied, with the Board finding that a noncompensable evaluation was appropriate.