Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death due to cirrhosis, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral leg condition, right foot condition, hepatitis C, and right knee osteoarthritis were dismissed. The appeal for service connection for lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy and myositis ossificans of the right thigh (right hip/thigh condition) is remanded.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were granted service connection effective May 1, 2013. The appeal is denied for earlier effective dates.,The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated at 20 percent since May 1, 2013, but a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded both the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C and the TDIU claim due to additional development being required.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, chronic kidney disease, liver condition (claimed as cirrhosis and liver cancer), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder and depression) due to insufficient evidence addressing service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of hepatitis B, finding no evidence to support a link between his in-service injuries and the condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C due to unclear records regarding his confinement in service, lack of verification of a reported stressor event, and need for further development related to these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date requests were also denied as they did not meet legal requirements.

The Veteran's death was due to hepatitis C, liver cancer, and diabetes mellitus. The claims for service connection are pending as the appellant is not eligible to substitute on these claims yet.

The Veteran's death was caused by service-connected schizophrenia, which contributed to his cirrhosis and ultimately led to his death. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as the cause of death has been established.

The Board has found that additional development is needed due to new VA treatment records, and the cases are being remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis B, renal failure as secondary to hepatitis B, and an abdominal scar as secondary to hepatitis B on a substitution basis. The Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions alone do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from March 6, 2015, to June 20, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for cirrhosis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C. The issue of TDIU is remanded due to its inextricability with the assignment of a rating for cirrhosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was previously denied, but new and material evidence has been received. The claim is now reopened. Service connection for neurobehavioral effects due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the issues of glaucoma, right shoulder disability, sciatic neuropathy in the left lower extremity (LLE), and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies.

The Board has denied service connection for the cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, but has remanded the issue of DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to an allegation of CUE in a prior rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's in-service exposure to blood and bodily fluids as a medical specialist is related to his current condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for heart disease, status post ICD placement as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus, with erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and onychomycosis. The appeals for hepatitis C, obstructive sleep apnea, and emphysema (now claimed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are remanded.