Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for alcoholism as secondary to PTSD and cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to alcoholism has been dismissed due to his withdrawal request.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and increased disability ratings. The Veteran's liver condition, high blood pressure, PTSD, stool and anus problems, obstructive sleep apnea, left leg/hip disorder, chest pain, cervical spine disorder, left arm disability, lumbar spine disability, and TDIU claim are all on remand.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions and addressing his contentions regarding chemical exposure.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to the lack of evidence linking his cause of death (hepatic cirrhosis) to service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the causes of the Veteran's COPD, hepatitis C virus, and skin rash. The issues related to tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a skin rash are denied as they did not manifest within one year of service separation or were caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting opinions from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's in-service symptoms and their relation to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The appeal for Hepatitis C, which was previously denied due to lack of evidence in the record, is remanded and will be readjudicated based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hepatitis B, chronic dermatitis, and a low back disability have been denied. The claim for TDIU prior to July 2, 2021, remains pending.

The Veteran was granted TDIU for the period from January 1, 2017, but not earlier.,For the period from May 8, 2013, to December 31, 2016, the Veteran's employment did not meet the criteria for TDIU as his income exceeded the poverty threshold.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the likely cause of the Veteran's hepatitis C. The Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for hepatitis C, sickle cell anemia, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was granted. The effective date remains to be determined as it pertains to a prior final decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cirrhosis of the liver, as well as the claim for TDIU due to unresolved issues regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions and verification of his claimed exposures in service.

The Veteran's appeal for depression was withdrawn, and the claims for sarcoidosis, lymphadenopathy, lymphadenitis of the joints, headaches (secondary to PTSD), obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to PTSD), and cirrhosis with enlarged spleen and esophageal varices were all dismissed due to lack of new and material evidence or other legal grounds.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to April 30, 2015, do not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). However, his TDIU is remanded for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Services for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the increased rating for left wrist disorder and the increase in disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss, dermatitis, and left great toe disorder. Service connection for hepatitis C and obstructive sleep apnea remains denied.

The Board has determined that it is not possible to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his active duty service prior to March 29, 1984 without resorting to speculation. The case is therefore being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to hepatitis C and alcohol use disorder, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hepatitis C may be related to in-service symptoms, but needs further evidence to make a determination. The case is being sent back for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver warrants an initial 70 percent disability rating, but no higher, for the period prior to June 15, 2017. The Board found that his symptoms included two or more episodes of hemorrhage from varices or portal gastropathy (erosive gastritis) and portal hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, liver cancer, portal vein thrombosis, and left total hip replacement as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.