Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for hepatitis C and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on evidence showing a link between his in-service exposure to air gun vaccinations and his current diagnosis of hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was reopened in October 2016 due to a change in his military discharge status. The effective date of the award is set at October 5, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver is being remanded due to issues with the adequacy of the March 2017 VA examination, as well as the need to obtain additional medical records from Hines VAMC.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for anemia, hepatitis, a stomach condition, an esophageal condition, asthma, and COPD due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. VA examinations are needed to determine current diagnoses and etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's reported stressor involving a fellow service member. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons for its decision regarding a compensable rating for hepatitis. The Veteran's condition was not appropriately evaluated, and a VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to liver failure, which was caused by diabetes mellitus type II. The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II had its onset during his service and led to his fatal chronic liver rejection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis, knee disabilities, and hepatitis C. The claims are being remanded due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of April 14, 2008 for a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities and inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and hepatitis C for further development, including obtaining private medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and thrombocytopenia due to hepatitis C. The VA is instructed to obtain records related to a blood transfusion and/or skin graft at Long Beach Naval Hospital in the 1970s and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and renal insufficiency and kidney stones as secondary to hepatitis C due to new evidence and a need for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis with severe ascites, kidney failure, bilateral edema of legs and feet, and fibromyalgia due to a lack of an opinion on their etiology. The cause of death is also being remanded as it is related to hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The appeal for service connection for anemia (to include as due to Hepatitis B vaccination) and entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is dismissed. The appeals regarding the reduction in ratings for left knee arthritis and right knee tricompartmental degenerative joint disease are also dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it did not manifest during service and is etiologically not related to service. The decision was based on VA examination findings and the Veteran's history of alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded. The initial rating for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is denied. An initial 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus is granted. Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is granted at a 10 percent rating. Service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is denied.

The Board has previously remanded the claims for chronic hepatitis C and swollen joints, but due to lack of adequate notice of scheduled examinations, another remand is required to afford the Veteran VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C as new and material evidence was not submitted to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.