Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2023

The appeal to reopen the previously denied claims for entitlement to service connection for a right foot condition and hepatitis C was denied. The AOJ determined that there was no nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his active service, and did not find any presumption of service connection based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was granted a 40 percent rating from November 17, 2011 to January 26, 2021. The reduction of the disability rating for hepatitis C from 20 percent to 0 percent was found proper. A 30 percent rating for cirrhosis was granted from March 21, 2011 and a 70 percent rating for cirrhosis was granted from July 8, 2015. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to September 20, 2018 was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and its associated peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's hepatitis C is presumed to have been caused by inoculations received during basic training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is causally related to his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to July 12, 2021 is referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C (with cirrhosis) as the evidence does not support a link to military service, including dental treatment and air gun inoculations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left upper extremity and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, hepatitis C, bilateral lower extremity nerve/vascular disabilities (PAD), and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide agent exposure.,Specifically, a new VA examination is required for each issue to determine the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis A as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his hemorrhoid disability was denied. For the period from May 27, 2015 to October 19, 2020, he was granted TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities. However, as of October 19, 2020, his claim for a TDIU became moot due to his already receiving maximum benefits.

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 the service separation examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a liver condition, finding that intravenous drug use during active service was the primary risk factor for his hepatitis C. The Board also found no evidence to support secondary service connection for a liver condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for cirrhosis of the liver, hepatocellular cancer, and hepatitis C have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's hepatitis C with cirrhosis is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's necrotizing fasciitis status post skin graft is currently rated at 20 percent, which also does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for Hepatitis C due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for VA opinions regarding potential in-service exposures.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for hepatitis and psychiatric disability (claimed as depression) due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incongruities in the medical opinions and lack of nexus evidence.

The Board has remanded two issues related to service connection for hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver associated with hepatitis C due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's death during the appeal process made the case moot, but his wife was granted substitution as the claimant.