Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder, including Hepatitis B, finding that the Veteran's condition is not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, as well as hepatitis C. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of a current disability without any in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claims are being remanded for further evaluation, and his TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to support the reopening of his claim. However, the Veteran’s status post appendectomy scar is not considered disabling enough to warrant a compensable evaluation. Additionally, the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver conditions (including hepatitis C and cirrhosis), neuropathy, heart condition, and TDIU are all remanded due to incomplete or missing information.

The Board denied an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for hepatitis C and denied a compensable disability rating for bilateral maxillary sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking ischemic heart disease to his active duty service or presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board also found that other conditions listed did not contribute to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and left knee condition due to insufficient examination opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder has not been received. The Veteran's tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular rating authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD with anxiety and insomnia (acquired psychiatric disorder), bilateral metatarsalgia (foot disorder), and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations. The claim for service connection for hepatitis C is also remanded.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II (due to herbicide exposure), and hypertension is denied. The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of liver are remanded for further development.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension is denied. Service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of liver (secondary to hepatitis C) is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for emphysema, COPD, and hepatitis C as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The Appellant testified that the Veteran’s PTSD caused his panic attacks which in turn aggravated his COPD and emphysema.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of death and his DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with scheduling a VA examination and providing the Veteran with necessary information. The claim for service connection for hepatitis C is still pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for fibromyalgia and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Veteran also failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and a higher rating for his right knee arthritis were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for the separate rating of right knee instability was granted, but the case is now remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), right hand disorders, left hand disorders, left foot disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, and right leg disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran's claim for dizzy spells is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disability, including as due to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's current liver disability is not related to active service.,The Board also denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, including as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent. The Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and his current heart disorders are not attributable to active service.

The Veteran's claim for VA compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of neck port placement during treatment for cancer, to include hepatitis C, is denied as the evidence does not show that his pain and hepatitis C were caused by improper care from VA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, specifically air gun injections during boot camp.