Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, tonsil cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. Additional evidence is needed from VA treatment records and a medical opinion on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B, right hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorder have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of diagnosis or manifestation within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 40 percent from August 30, 2011 until January 25, 2019. The TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded three service connection claims due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's Hepatitis C was related to his service, specifically his in-service sexual behavior resulting in sexually transmitted disease(s).

The Veteran's steatohepatitis is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection for the cause of his death. The Appellant contends that her husband’s death, listed as septic shock with underlying causes including alcohol-related cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus, is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied, while his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) was granted.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and rheumatoid arthritis claims are remanded for additional medical opinions. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no medical evidence to support a nexus between his diagnosis and service or secondary to his service-connected alcohol abuse.

The Board has remanded both the service connection for hepatitis C and secondary service connection for cirrhosis of the liver as related to hepatitis C due to insufficient supporting evidence in the current record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to issues related to the Veteran's death. The Appellant is seeking to substitute as the claimant in these matters, but the AOJ must first determine if she meets eligibility criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's Hepatitis C disability, specifically whether it is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected foot disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected Granulomatous hepatitis consistent with sarcoidosis and Scar, right lateral flank associated with granulomatous hepatitis consistent with sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's hepatitis C disability is currently rated at 40 percent and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran also sought TDIU but was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's hepatitis B disability is rated at 100% effective June 19, 2009. Effective November 4, 2019, a separate 10% rating for cirrhosis of the liver associated with hepatitis B is granted.,For the period prior to June 19, 2009, the Veteran's hepatitis B disability warrants a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the appellant's current psychiatric disability, cirrhosis of the liver, and headaches are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental condition, an earlier effective date for her PTSD disability rating, and reopening of her Hepatitis C claim have all been denied.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD, which causes near continuous panic attacks, sleep problems, impairment of short and long term memory, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment and abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, difficulty adapting to stressful situations, and impaired impulse control.