Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including for cirrhosis of the liver, GERD, prostate enlargement, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (neck condition), and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities, particularly those related to his right foot and back. The Veteran will need to undergo additional VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to lack of information about his employment history and duties. The Board requests the Veteran to provide an application for TDIU and any evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities alone render him unemployable.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, specifically respiratory failure, loculated empyema body cavity, liver cancer, or hepatitis C. The decision also mentions possible herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and depression due to their inextricability with the issues of service connection for hepatitis B and right inguinal hernia.,Service connection for hepatitis B and right inguinal hernia remains denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a sleep disorder, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and an effective date earlier than September 18, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran has not provided authorization for release of his private medical records, which are necessary for proper evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of clarity in the medical opinion provided, and additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with depression.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, including nerve damage, tinnitus, bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, gastritis, bilateral hearing loss, and fibromyalgia. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and need for a new opinion regarding the cause of death, including potential secondary service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the current disability is less likely related to military service. The Veteran's MOS as a food specialist suggests a lower probability of noise exposure.,Service connection for hepatitis C is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a mental condition and hepatitis, finding that there was no current evidence of these conditions. The Veteran did not have a confirmed in-service stressor or exposure to hepatitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnosis and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for hepatitis B and hepatitis C due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's alleged risk factors during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (claimed as PTSD) has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, including hepatitis C and depression. The decision grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C was caused by his in-service jet-injector immunization or a post-service blood transfusion, and thus grants service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hepatitis C disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to a recent increase in severity since his last VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding no current diagnosis of the condition. Service connection was granted for bilateral shoulder disabilities, attributed to in-service lifting duties and related pain.,Service connection for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities were found to be related to his service-connected migraines and repetitive microtrauma.