Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current low back, cervical spine, hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)), bilateral pes planus, and a cervical spine disorders. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hepatitis C and hypertension secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is being reviewed again.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for chronic liver disease and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of hepatitis C and a VA examination to determine if it was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current Hepatitis C was incurred during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's Gilbert's disease with history of hepatitis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied service connection for hepatitis C, a liver condition, and a digestive system condition. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, renal failure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the evidence did not reach equipoise in support of his contention that he contracted the disease during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease, liver disease including hepatitis, compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for stomach and esophageal abnormalities as a result of VA treatment, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for PTSD, headaches, and essential tremors of both hands. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU effective from January 23, 2013.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for hepatitis C and liver cancer as secondary to hepatitis C due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been manifested by daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia with minor weight loss and hepatomegaly. The Board denied a higher initial rating as the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis based on the submission of new and material evidence is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of hepatitis is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the case is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis B was related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis B, as it is unclear whether his condition is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected nasal disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from following or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 17, 2016.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C and lichen planus, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service. Service connection for GERD is remanded due to reasonable doubt raised by the Veteran's contention of secondary service connection.,Service connection for hepatitis C was denied because there was no credible evidence linking it to service or any incident therein. The Board also found lichen planus was not linked to service, with the exception that its onset may be related to treatment for hepatitis C.