Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, hepatitis C, residuals of venereal disease (to include herpes), right wrist condition, bilateral hip conditions, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to their grant in an earlier decision, leaving no unresolved issues.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and the claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's hepatitis C is not considered service connected, and his psychiatric disorder does not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's claim regarding hepatitis C and his contention that it is related to in-service air gun vaccinations. A new VA examination is needed to address this issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable evaluation is denied.,The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an initial compensable evaluation is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of tinnitus and cirrhosis of the liver for additional development due to errors in fulfilling their duty to assist.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including a determination on whether the Veteran was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities from March 6, 2015, to June 20, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis B, alopecia, and hypertension as secondary to HIV. The claims for a back disability, right knee disability, chest pain, colitis, and ulcers of the rectum were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cirrhosis of the liver, and TDIU due to additional development being needed. The issues are related as they involve the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's death was caused by complications including diabetes mellitus, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in service. Service connection for the cause of death is granted under the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hepatitis C due to conflicting opinions and a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's in-service drug use was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's liver disability, specifically nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's pancreatitis is found to be secondary to his now service-connected liver disability.

The Veteran's left foot ulcers are granted as service-connected, and the case is remanded for further development regarding effective dates and extraschedular ratings. The hepatitis C disability remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis, a heart disorder, squamous cell carcinoma, and gout, finding that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board has vacated the August 25, 2022 decision and remanded both claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and cirrhosis of the liver due to new evidence submitted after the July 2014 rating decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and liver disability (claimed as hepatitis). The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claim for prostate disability.,Service connection could not be established for the Veteran's claimed disabilities because there was no evidence that they were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to malignant neoplasm of the larynx, hepatitis C, and hypertension. The VA medical opinions concluded that these conditions were not related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.