Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2020

The appeals for hepatitis, schizophrenia (reopened), chronic liver disorder, and fatigue have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.,Due to the death of the appellant, the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis occurred after service and was not causally related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for hepatitis C and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on direct evidence linking it to service, specifically air gun vaccinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cysts was reopened and granted. The heart condition claim was also reopened, but the respiratory disability, right hand disability, and liver disability claims were denied.,The Veteran died in August 2017, and his surviving spouse is substituted as the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability secondary to the Veteran's left femur disability and hepatitis C. The Veteran is also granted entitlement to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the April 2013 rating decision denying service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is not final due to incorrect address. The case is now remanded for further evaluation regarding the relationship between service-connected conditions and the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver was not caused or aggravated by VA care, and there is no evidence that any treatment would have prevented his condition from progressing. The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the Veteran's fatal liver cirrhosis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding service connection for a hip injury, liver condition (claimed as hepatitis C due to CLCW), and diabetes mellitus, Type II. The claims are currently pending.

The appeal for the hepatitis C claim is dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew his appeal.,The vision loss and depression claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a groin injury and hepatitis C due to new evidence submitted since the final decisions. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis C as there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury, and the Veteran's lay statements were not competent to establish a nexus between his current condition and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, frostbite of the right hand, frostbite of the left hand, frostbite of the right foot, frostbite of the left foot, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for an addendum opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis C have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases to allow for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for spinal meningitis, hepatitis C, and lumbar spine disability have been denied.,New evidence has reopened the claim of service connection for hepatitis C, but it remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's chronic hepatitis C, which was listed as an immediate cause of death, is related to his service. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion addressing this issue.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis B, cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as his disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected respiratory disorder (claimed as asbestosis) is denied.,The Veteran's left shin splint condition, hepatitis C, cataracts (secondary to hepatitis C), malignant melanoma, residuals of a right forearm cyst, and sleep apnea are all denied.,Service connection for these conditions is not granted due to lack of evidence supporting their onset or relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for Hepatitis C and granted service connection for PTSD. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's Hepatitis C.