Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2020

The VA denied a higher rating for hepatitis C and irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the appellant's symptoms did not meet criteria for increased ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hepatitis C, residuals of a laparoscopic hernia repair (secondary to hepatitis C), PTSD (secondary to hepatitis C), and liver cancer (secondary to hepatitis C) due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that liver cirrhosis was a contributory cause but not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C began during his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hepatitis C and a tattoo obtained during active duty training (ACDUTRA) in July 1979.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding SSA records that need to be obtained for a full review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision also notes that the claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine with radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of in-service risk factors for Hepatitis C, including a blood transfusion and exposure to hepatitis-infected patients.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but denied service connection for a low back condition.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of infectious hepatitis is denied as his condition has not resulted in any incapacitating episodes or symptoms that would warrant such a rating.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for hepatitis C as additional development is needed, including obtaining the appellant's VA treatment records from March 2013 to October 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C.

The appeal pertaining to the claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis B is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for chronic asthma, right knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and hypertension due to incomplete development, including a need for new VA examinations or opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, but the Board requires additional information from medical experts regarding specific aspects of his claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for upper left arm or shoulder disability, hepatitis C, and hypertension due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected primary biliary cirrhosis has been rated at 10 percent since December 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not show any additional symptoms warranting a higher rating, such as portal hypertension or splenomegaly.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle condition, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current ankle condition and his military service.,The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for Hepatitis C due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset or etiology.

The Veteran's claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is denied due to lack of in-service noise exposure and the absence of continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as she does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claim for hepatitis disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for liver failure, hepatitis C, hypertension, kidney cysts, vision loss, memory loss, bone density loss, osteoporosis, and low back disability are all denied. The claim for service connection for liver failure is reopened due to new evidence submitted.