Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the cause of his death is not otherwise related to service. Service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and secondary service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders due to cirrhosis, finding insufficient evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been rated at 10 percent since March 30, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to intermittent fatigue and hepatomegaly without daily fatigue, malaise, anorexia or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Hepatitis B are not service-connected, and the Board has denied her claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for hepatitis C due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's symptoms and a need for a retrospective opinion. The matter is now pending further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied in a previous rating decision. New evidence has been submitted suggesting a possible link to air-gun injections during active duty, and the case is being remanded for further review.

This decision denies service connection for fatigue secondary to hepatitis C. The Veteran's claim is denied as he does not have a separate compensable disability manifested by fatigue related to military service or a service-connected disability.,The decision also denies the Veteran's request for a greater amount of retroactive benefits following an increased rating for hepatitis C, finding that his retroactive disability compensation payment was correctly calculated based on his combined disability ratings and dependency status during that period.,Finally, the decision finds that the Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for dependency benefits as he did not provide a completed application within one year of notification of the February 2008 award for increased compensation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, CAD, cirrhosis of the liver, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to the need for a medical examination.,It is noted that these conditions may be secondary to obesity, which resulted from the Veteran's right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C originated during his active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type II, and hepatitis C as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or chronicity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The issues of service connection for high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis C, degenerative arthritis of the spine with back pain, and fragment in left knee are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical dysplasia, depressive disorder (not otherwise specified), COPD, and Hepatitis C due to additional development of her records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability (claimed as CAD with myocardial infarction), hepatitis C, lumbar spine disability, left foot injury, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were not found to have onset during service or be related to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not found to have onset during service and is not otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C claim.

The Board denied an effective date prior to November 30, 2012 for the grant of service connection for hepatitis C as the petition to reopen was considered abandoned due to failure to provide requested information within one year.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.,The Board is reopening the claim of service connection for a heart disorder, but finding that new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis and hemorrhoids were denied. The claim for hemorrhoids was reopened, but not granted. The Veteran's eye conditions (refractive error, blepharitis, dry eye, and cataracts) are not service-connected as they did not begin during service or are not related to the in-service injury of a fractured left zygomatic arch. His rating for residuals of a fractured left zygomatic arch prior to September 10, 2017 is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's in-service symptoms and diagnoses are consistent with his current condition.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis and liver disability, and granted a 10 percent rating for chronic cholelithiasis with status-post cholecystectomy. The Veteran's symptoms are mild.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for service-connected right toe hallux valgus, lumbar spasm, right and left thigh radicular pain, and GERD and cirrhosis of the liver due to additional evidence obtained since the last adjudication.