Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for further development and reconsideration of service connection claims, including a gynecological disorder (cervical dysplasia), an upper respiratory condition (COPD), a psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder, NOS), and a liver disorder (hepatitis C).

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for hepatitis and left knee disability as no new and relevant evidence was submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board has reopened the claims for left foot, left knee, and hepatitis C disorders due to new evidence received. The remaining issues are remanded for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and providing examinations.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and PTSD have been denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU from July 8, 2019, but his prior TDIU claim is still pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, and his claims for sleep apnea, hepatitis C, high blood pressure, esophageal varices, cirrhosis, and gallstones are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, including its relation to service and known risk factors.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the current ratings for both conditions did not accurately reflect their severity.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with emphysema, hepatitis C, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and peripheral vascular diseases of the lower extremities. Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claim of hepatitis C service connection, specifically concerning the air gun injection theory. The VA must obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board denied initial compensable ratings for hepatitis C and service connection for diabetes mellitus and gastrointestinal disability, finding no evidence of symptoms or causation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and lichen planus due to incomplete records development. The VA is required to provide additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty due to a tattoo received during service in Germany.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and review by the AOJ. The issues of PTSD, hypertension, sleep apnea, and hepatitis C secondary to PTSD are still under consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hepatitis C, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as secondary to hepatitis C, and diabetes mellitus, type II as secondary to hepatitis C due to incomplete compliance with previous directives.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with prior instructions for obtaining an independent medical expert's opinion regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C infection and its relation to VA treatment. The matter is now being returned to obtain such an opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion outside of the Houston VAMC regarding the etiology and causation of any disability resulting from the neck port placement during his cancer treatment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of Hepatitis C, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to support a link between his military service and the development of the condition.