Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hepatitis C are denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hepatitis C due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be remanded as it is related to a previously referred issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder, hepatitis C, back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an updated hepatitis C risk assessment and a TERA-related VA examination. The Veteran's service records indicate exposure to Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water, which is presumed for veterans who served at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's hepatitis C residuals disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection. The initial rating for Hepatitis B and C remains at 20 percent.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the grant of service connection for a new condition.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the earliest date is April 14, 2016. The Veteran's claim was not raised prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's diagnoses of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from cirrhosis of the liver and acute kidney injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, seizure disorder, and hepatitis C due to incomplete opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his headaches that began during service in 1985 from flash burns, his seizure disorder related to substance abuse, and his hepatitis C possibly linked to receiving a tattoo.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted as the service connection for his cause of death, which includes cryptogenic cirrhosis requiring liver transplant and sepsis, is found to be at least as likely due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Board finds that this exposure was both a principal and contributory cause of his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service, specifically mentioning a bite incident in 1982. The AOJ will obtain this new opinion and then readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been granted a rating of 60 percent for accrued benefits purposes, with daily fatigue, malaise, anorexia, and significant weight loss. The other conditions have not met the criteria for higher ratings.

The claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, hepatitis B, osteoarthritis with avascular necrosis left hip, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy left lower extremity are all denied as new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to missing service treatment records and outstanding private medical records. The Veteran's SSN may be incorrect, and a search should be conducted using both correct and incorrect numbers.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for hepatitis (including Hepatitis C) and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD). The left ankle disability and residuals of STD are remanded for further development.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss due to noise exposure during service. Service connection is denied for hepatitis (including Hepatitis C) as there is no evidence of current active disease or residual from prior infection. Service connection is also denied for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD).

Your original rating for liver transplant (also evaluated as hepatitis C and cirrhosis) was reduced from 60% to 30%, but then restored back to 60%. Since the reduction did not occur, your claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic hepatitis C is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Board finds the need for an examination to determine if his current diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C is related to in-service hand injuries.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The Board has found that the Veteran's GERD and hepatitis are secondary to her PTSD with alcohol abuse, but additional VA opinions are needed to address this theory of entitlement.