Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypothyroidism is granted. The claims for seborrheic dermatitis, GERD, esophagitis, liver disability (claimed as hepatitis A), and a disability of the ovaries status post cystectomy and oophorectomy are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's Hepatitis C and liver cancer. The VA is required to obtain new medical opinions from specialists addressing whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his service, particularly his military service by air gun inoculation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether he should have been service connected for certain conditions. The claims for dependency and indemnity compensation based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as well as burial benefits, are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The issue of GERD secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2 and the housebound status prior to May 8, 2013 have also been remanded.,Further medical opinions are needed regarding whether GERD is proximately due to or aggravated by diabetes mellitus type 2.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for any disability rating above 10 percent. Service connection was granted for left and right ankle arthralgia as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C and cirrhosis.

The Veteran's former spouse, L.L., is recognized as his dependent spouse for VA purposes from December 28, 2011 to November 1, 2015 due to the establishment of a combined disability rating of at least 30 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B as there is no current diagnosis of this condition, and the evidence does not show any chronic disability related to a past hepatitis B infection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The VA is directed to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. Additionally, the VA should provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's edema of the lower extremities and gout are distinct disabilities caused or aggravated by his cirrhosis of the liver.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was granted with an effective date of January 2, 2013. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus type II is set at 20 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for hepatitis B and an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current diagnoses of anxiety disorder and PTSD are unclear in terms of their relation to service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and hypertension have been rated based on their current manifestations, but the Board has not found evidence of additional symptoms warranting higher ratings.,For TDIU, the Veteran was granted a 100% schedular disability rating for chronic renal disease, which is considered an 'additional' disability in this context.

The Veteran's appeals for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for cirrhosis with chronic cholelithiasis and entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no current diagnosis and no evidence of in-service causation. The TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a total disability rating based on his service-connected lumbar and radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board has decided that Hepatitis C is service connected, but the issues of right knee and left knee disabilities are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that his TBI, alcohol and drug use, and hepatitis C caused his liver cancer and ultimately led to his death. The decision is based on new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Hepatitis B and hypertension due to a need for additional development.