Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by her service-connected conditions, including hepatitis C. The VA will obtain relevant private treatment records and provide a medical opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's hepatitis C and liver hemangioma prior to his death. The VA will secure additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and lumbar spine strain due to additional VA treatment records not being considered in the previous readjudication.

The Veteran's left and right foot disabilities have been granted service connection with effective dates of June 27, 2013. Effective date for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has not been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability, diabetes mellitus, type 2, squamous cell carcinoma of the right finger, colon cancer, and hepatitis C are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis C, high blood pressure, right foot disability, and left foot disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,There is no persuasive medical evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during his active duty. The Board found that the medical opinions provided by VA did not support a connection to service.,Similarly, the Veteran's death was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.