Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2020

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for hepatitis B and C service connection, as well as a higher rating for thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was due to his own willful misconduct in using illicit intravenous drugs during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, Diabetes Mellitus Type II (DM II), Hypertension, and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) due to new evidence received. The effective date of the grant of service connection for epilepsy is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for periodontal gum disease and hepatitis A have been denied. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for his claimed psychiatric, heart, sleep apnea, neck, upper extremity radiculopathy, head injury residuals, skin disorder, ankle, or knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the likely etiology of any diagnosable hepatitis condition, specifically whether it clearly and unmistakably preexisted service or is otherwise related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, which was diagnosed during the appeal period and linked to in-service risk factors.

The Veteran's chronic hepatitis is characterized by near-constant fatigue, and the Board has granted a disability evaluation of 100 percent for this condition effective May 22, 2017.

The Board has granted the claims for service connection for parotid neoplasm and acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to HIV, but denied the claim for prostatitis. The other conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and service connection for cause of death. The DIC and pension benefits claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for hepatitis C was granted, but the claim of service connection itself remains denied.,Service connection for hemorrhoids is denied as there is no evidence of more than mild or moderate hemorrhoids.

The Board has decided that the case needs further development due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's hepatitis, chronic liver disease, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bowel disorder and an increased rating for infectious hepatitis with deficiency of factor 7, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims. The Veteran's bowel disorder is not considered proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected condition, while his current rating for infectious hepatitis remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was granted service connection, but his increased rating claims for degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, and knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C had its onset during his service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated at 20 percent prior to June 1, 2012 and increased to 40 percent as of June 1, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's death was caused by liver cirrhosis, which the Board finds may be related to his alcohol abuse disorder. The cause of death claim is REMANDED for a new VA opinion on whether PTSD with anxiety led to or aggravated the alcohol abuse disorder and thus contributed to the Veteran’s death. For the lower and upper extremities conditions, the claims are also REMANDED as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection for the cause of death claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hepatitis C and tinnitus as claimed by the Veteran, did not preclude employment prior to May 18, 2011. The Board found that the evidence does not demonstrate that it is more likely than not the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities alone prior to May 18, 2011.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether COPD and hepatitis C were aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, Hepatitis C, prostate cancer, and urinary incontinence due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases of hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), and diabetes mellitus due to potential service connection issues. Specifically, it is unclear if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving aboard the U.S.S. Fresno in Vietnam waters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hepatitis C and B due to insufficient information regarding herbicide agent exposure during service. The case is being returned for further action, including obtaining VA-authorized non-VA treatment records and attempting to verify in-service herbicide agent exposure.