Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition.

The claim for service connection for hepatitis C is denied. The claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability prior to November 22, 2010, and for TDIU prior to January 7, 2014 are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for autoimmune hepatitis, residuals of a left hernia operation, and painful scars associated with residuals of a left hernia operation. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his conditions were related to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA treatment records from the early 1990s to 2012 and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding whether VA treatment caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the appellant's death, and no service connection was granted for deviated septum status post septorhinoplasty or hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for his service-connected Thorazine-induced hepatitis have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran contracted hepatitis C as a result of the May 2004 colonoscopy at the Dallas VAMC. The opinion must address if the VA was careless, negligent, or lacked proper skill in providing care during this procedure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and requires a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, Hepatitis C, a back disability, and a headache disability due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected hepatitis C, finding that the current effective date is proper and denying the claim.

Your claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been granted in full, and the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination, and needs further clarification on the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hepatitis is not service-connected as there is no current diagnosis and the claim must be denied.,The Veteran's eye condition, including glaucoma and blepharitis, is not service-connected due to lack of a causal relationship with his military service.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is not service-connected as there is no evidence linking the DVT to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is service-connected, with the most likely cause being in-service risk factors such as tattoos and drug use. The decision grants the claim based on the evidence showing a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has remanded the cases of hepatitis C and right foot fungus for further development due to insufficient opinions from previous VA examiners.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Hepatitis C with cirrhosis was denied as the evidence did not show daily symptoms, weight loss or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest and treatment by a physician.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, eye disability, leg disability, hepatitis C, and ulcers as they are not related to service.,Hypertension was identified prior to the Veteran's period of service and is presumed to have preexisted service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hepatitis C, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7354.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis are being remanded for further development to determine the nature and severity of his hepatitis C during the appeal period, as well as whether symptoms can be distinguished between the two conditions. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for polysubstance abuse, which was secondary to his service-connected PTSD, has been granted. The appeal is dismissed as there is no longer a controversy.