Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for a right shoulder disability and hepatitis residuals have been dismissed. The claim for MDD prior to February 21, 2020 has been granted. The issues of left hip disability and bilateral foot disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise.,Other issues related to hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, hip and knee disabilities, foot disabilities, seizure disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, eye disability, and hepatitis are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity in medical opinions regarding the severity and functional impairment of hepatitis C, as well as whether medication was required for control of the condition.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim of service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it is related to the Veteran's in-service blood transfusion and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.

The Veteran's hepatitis C condition is currently rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board has found that the symptoms have been daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia with incapacitating episodes (with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain) having a total duration of at least two weeks but less than four weeks during the past 12-month period. The Veteran's hepatitis C condition is not rated higher due to lack of hepatomegaly or more extensive incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, anxiety disorder, hypertension, skin disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the current nature of these conditions and their likely etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic hepatitis (Hepatitis B and C) with cirrhosis of the liver was denied because he failed to report for his scheduled VA examination.

The Board has found that the VA did not comply with its prior directive to obtain post-service treatment records, including those related to blood donation in 1981 due to hepatitis C. The Board also notes that there are outstanding medical records from Georgia Department of Corrections and SSA which need to be obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and inaccuracies in the date of diagnosis. The Veteran's hepatitis C is being reviewed again with a focus on obtaining all available VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis B, cirrhosis of the liver, and TDIU due to issues related to his military service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's hepatitis A was diagnosed in service and resolved without recurrence. The Board finds the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of hepatitis.,Hypertension has been found to be present, but its onset is unclear as it may be related to the PACT Act presumption based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C contributed substantially to his cause of death, small cell lung cancer. The decision grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptive under the PACT Act. The other conditions are not presumed and require direct service connection.,Service connection for right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and right upper extremity disorder (claimed as arthritis in joints) is denied.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected condition, and therefore he is not eligible for burial benefits.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is being remanded for further evaluation due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and liver cancer as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C. The decision also grants service connection for tinnitus, finding that it began during active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C and residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,New evidence has been received, but it does not change the current disposition of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C, left foot bone spurs, and right foot bone spurs due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and exposure to toxins. The Veteran must be provided with VA examinations and opinions to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and military service. The appeal is not ready for appellate review without obtaining missing medical opinions.