Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hepatitis B condition and its relation to his military service. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran had any type of hepatitis since filing his claim in October 2010 or within close proximity thereto, and whether it is at least as likely as not related to blood exposure during his laundry duties in service.

The appeals for type II diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and lung disorder were dismissed. The left breast calcifications appeal was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died before a decision could be made, and thus has no jurisdiction to proceed.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hepatitis C, liver cancer, portal vein thrombosis, and left total hip replacement due to procedural issues related to substitution as a claimant.

The Board has denied service connection for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV as these conditions are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for Hepatitis C and lung cancer as they are not adequately addressed in the current evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, and to ascertain the current severity of his service-connected lung cancer.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 9, 2010 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD/psychological disorder, along with other service-connected disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 9, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss, and the examiner found it less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for hepatitis C residuals is denied because the Veteran did not meet the required medical nexus between his in-service exposure and his current condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that it did not originate during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for additional opinions regarding whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of VA examinations and incomplete evidence. The Veteran is requested to undergo VA examinations for hepatitis C, cervical spine disability, lower back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C and whether his reported hepatitis A diagnosis was related to his subsequently diagnosed hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death and if his end stage liver disease, cirrhosis, and end stage renal disease were related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the case.

The Veteran's stage II-IV cirrhosis with hepatitis C is granted as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his active service. The appeal for DIC benefits based on the cause of death is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA did not obtain a necessary VA examination before deciding the service connection claim for infectious hepatitis or its residuals. The case is being remanded to schedule an examination and provide a medical opinion on whether the Veteran currently has a hepatitis disorder or any related residuals, and if so, whether it is at least as likely as not that the current condition had its onset during military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected congenital apathic dysfunction, which is currently rated as noncompensable. The decision finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran’s symptoms most nearly approximated intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia.