Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for Hepatitis C based on new and material evidence is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for Hepatitis C is remanded due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a determination regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, including his exposure in Guam without masks or gloves.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including lymphoma at multiple sites, liver disability, bilateral hip disability, hepatitis B, acid reflux, and diabetes mellitus. The appeal is not granted as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for Hepatitis C and its residuals, but the TDIU rating is still pending as it requires further evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for traumatic sphenoid encephalocele and headaches are granted. The claim for hepatitis C is remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claims for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and surgically severed facial nerve are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C and knee disabilities. Additional VA examinations are needed.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral lower extremity DVT due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for hepatitis C and its secondary conditions, as well as the bilateral knee disability and back/neck disabilities. The TDIU claim is also deferred due to being inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, but has remanded the claims of obstructive sleep apnea and hepatitis C due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's Hodgkin's disease and hepatitis C claims are remanded due to the lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is also remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from care providers and a VA examination.

The appeal for an increased evaluation of the Veteran's unspecified psychotic disorder is dismissed. The Veteran was granted TDIU on a substitution basis due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a liver condition (to include hepatitis C and cirrhosis) due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to military service, with the persuasive weight of the evidence against finding any causal relationship.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted effective February 26, 2019. However, the earlier portion of his claim prior to October 5, 2018, is remanded for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for an extraschedular determination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis B and its residuals, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support a finding that his current symptoms are related to his in-service Hepatitis B infection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to a disagreement with the October 2021 decision, and now requires referral to the Director for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a hearing. The claim for TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hepatitis C and right proximal tibia condition, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 9, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his hepatitis C is rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hepatitis C, and diabetes mellitus has been granted. The decision also includes remanded issues regarding hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a TDIU based on PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected Hepatitis C caused or contributed to his cause of death (small cell lung cancer). The VA is instructed to obtain a medical opinion addressing these issues.