Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service and no causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been granted, with tinnitus presumed to have been incurred in service and the other conditions having their service connections established on a presumptive basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C service connection is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it began during service and is aggravated by his PTSD.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that cirrhosis of the liver was not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disability and cause of death due to alcoholism as secondary to PTSD. Additional VA medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any heart disability and the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for bilateral metatarsalgia has been dismissed. The claims for a higher initial rating for hepatitis B and C with early stage cirrhosis and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues for increased ratings for bipolar disorder, bilateral oophorectomy, Hepatitis C, and psoriasis. The Board has determined that these matters are remanded to obtain outstanding private treatment records from Dr. F.S., Dr. K.H., and the Veteran’s private primary care provider.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, substance use disorder, cirrhosis of the liver, and diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities. The effective dates are not specified.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, effective September 27, 2010. The ratings for renal dysfunction, left lower extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and muscle group IV disability are denied. Service connection for hepatitis C and scar residuals from appendectomy, thoracotomy, laparotomy and cut-down scars in the right groin is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim will be reconsidered with additional information and a medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for Hepatitis C and a skin disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate disability ratings and TDIU status.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and hypertension. Service connection was not granted for dermatitis.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for scars, status post liver transplant, is granted at a 20 percent level. The claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection to status post liver transplant, chronic active hepatitis with active nodular cirrhosis, now cryptogenic cirrhosis, is dismissed.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis, and thus service connection for hepatitis A, B, and C is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a VA examination for his service-connected conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and liver fibrosis with cirrhosis.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis B, chronic fatigue, heartburn and indigestion, and headaches as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or a link to service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to gastrointestinal bleeding, decompensated cirrhosis of the liver, and aspiration pneumonia. The evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's liver disease, including hepatitis C, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's kidney disease is also granted as secondary to his liver disease.