Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism due to herbicide agent exposure. The remaining issues of service connection for hepatitis C, upper gastrointestinal disorder, and gallstones are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for his fatty liver and cirrhosis is remanded due to insufficient evidence, requiring further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure during service and the nature of her disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional private treatment records, obtain VA treatment records from March 2022 onwards, and have their exposure verified by the United States Army Dosimetry Center. They are also required to undergo an examination for a determination on the nature and likely cause of their claimed conditions.

Service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The effective date for a 10% rating for Hepatitis C is set at February 26, 2010.

The Veteran asserts he should receive a compensable rating for hepatitis C from the effective date of service connection, February 2012, to April 2016. The Board has determined that a retrospective VA opinion is needed to determine relevant symptoms during this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder cancer has been fully granted. The appeal for hepatitis (B or C variant) is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C or any residuals, and therefore denied service connection for hepatitis C. The claims for enlarged prostate gland and disabilities due to high cholesterol are remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from a specific period and seeking an opinion on whether PTSD or an acquired psychiatric disability existed during service and its relationship to current conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to new evidence being added to the claim file.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for DIC due to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the only basis for a grant was the liberalizing law allowing presumptive service connection for liver cancer and hepatitis C related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support direct or secondary service connection prior to March 14, 2017.

The Veteran's hepatitis B was not caused by VA treatment, and the Board found no fault on the part of VA. Therefore, his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, a psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and insomnia), a heart disorder (claimed as ischemic heart disease), type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hemorrhoids have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for hepatitis C and the other conditions are denied.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for hepatitis C and granted it, finding that the Veteran's chronic viral hepatitis B and C is more likely than not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's military service and his condition. The decision also noted that the Veteran's in-service IV drug use constitutes willful misconduct.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted for the period since April 12, 2021. Prior to this date, his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to internal inconsistencies and insufficient opinions in previous examinations. The claims include respiratory disorders, diabetes mellitus type II, and a liver disorder.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C virus (HCV) as there is no evidence that the condition began during active service or was related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding hepatitis C and psychiatric disorders due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as there is no evidence that the condition manifested during or was caused by military service.

The Board restored a 30 percent rating for cirrhosis of the liver effective March 30, 2017 after finding that the reduction was not properly applied. The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected cirrhosis of the liver is denied.