Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting the obturator nerve, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting ilio-inguinal nerve have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of liver (claimed as cirrhosis of the liver due to having hepatitis due to exposure) has been remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for infectious hepatitis, left tonsillar carcinoma (tonsillar cancer), and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a failure to verify her period of active duty.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's death was related to his service-connected knee disabilities, but needs further clarification on whether these conditions caused obesity and cirrhosis of the liver.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, arthritis both hands, GERD, erectile dysfunction, gout, liver disability to include steatohepatitis (NASH), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and hypertension due to a lack of response from VA medical records.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C is denied as the evidence does not support a service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD and the medical records do not indicate its onset in service or relate it to any injury or illness during active duty.,The Veteran's claim for cervical spinal stenosis is denied as there is no evidence showing a current condition related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for kidney condition, to include hydronephrosis, is denied as the medical records do not indicate that it was caused by an event or illness during active duty and is not secondary to any service-connected disability.

The rating reduction for hepatitis B from 20 to 10 percent, effective September 15, 2020, was proper. The Veteran's MDD manifestations prior to August 3, 2020, and thereafter, did not meet the criteria for a higher than 70 percent or 100 percent rating, respectively.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C and remanded the issue of a compensable disability rating for migraine headaches.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hepatitis C is dismissed as it originates from a final rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and TDIU have been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of all pending appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) and Hepatitis C due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran needs additional medical opinions on whether his conditions are aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and related to toxic exposure during service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and is denied. The Board also found that the evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection for duodenal ulcer.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, sinus disability, acquired psychiatric disability (MDD, PTSD), cirrhosis of the liver, facial injury with six teeth missing, right eye injury, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and TBI. The issues are being returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral eye disability has also been denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for an initial compensable rating for hepatitis A, a 10 percent evaluation based upon multiple non-compensable service-connected disabilities, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 2, 2021.

The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver is being remanded for further examination and opinion due to potential service connection under the PACT Act, as his exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand during service may be related.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cirrhosis related to alcohol, and the Board found that his service-connected heart condition did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The Board also determined that there was no evidence to support presumptive service connection for either cirrhosis or ischemic heart disease.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis C and Fatty liver as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's Hepatitis C. The remand directives were not followed, requiring a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right wrist cysts, neck disorder, back disorder, right arm and elbow nerve disorder, and hepatitis B are remanded due to the need for additional records and medical opinions.