Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD and for cirrhosis as secondary to PTSD with alcohol use disorder.

The Board has decided that the cause of death is remanded due to new evidence from the PACT Act, and a VA examination is needed to determine if in-service exposure to toxic substances caused the Veteran's death from cirrhosis.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus and hepatitis A, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.,There is no current diagnosis of hepatitis A in the record. The Veteran was diagnosed with hepatitis A while in service but it resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment beginning November 16, 2013. A TDIU on extraschedular basis was granted for the period from November 16, 2013, to March 4, 2014.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. Service connection for hepatitis A, stomach ulcer associated with hepatitis A, pancreatitis associated with hepatitis A, and gastritis associated with hepatitis A are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, including as secondary to his service-connected foot conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran used heroin in service due to foot pain.

The Board dismissed the claim for hepatitis C due to withdrawal by the appellant. The cirrhosis of the liver issue is remanded and will require a VA examination considering potential exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right-hand disability, hepatitis C, respiratory condition (COPD and emphysema), and heart condition (CAD) have all been denied as there is no probative medical evidence to support the assertions that these conditions were incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by cirrhosis, which is service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death but rather contributed to it.

The appeal is remanded for further action on the claims of service connection for hepatitis B with status post liver transplant, tender scar of the medial lower left arm, and left ulnar nerve injury with surgery.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C and its relation to service, as well as whether it contributed to his death from liver cancer.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied prior to January 25, 2012 due to the lack of evidence showing he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the failure to appear for VA examinations, and a new opportunity is provided for the Veteran to report for these exams.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C began during service or is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board finds that there was a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and that additional development is necessary.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and chronic liver disease with kidney failure due to inadequate opinions from the December 2022 VA examiner. The AOJ is instructed to clarify what the Veteran is currently service connected for, and obtain an updated opinion regarding the relationship between his conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and to obtain updated clinical records, a disability retirement file from OPM or the Veteran's last employing agency, and private treatment records. The claims are also being remanded for addendum opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's seizure disorder and viral hepatitis B with cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, and cholecystectomy and pancreatitis.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal before the decision was made.

The Board has remanded all claims due to errors in the July 2021 decision, including inadequate opinions and reliance on negative evidence from the Veteran's enlistment report of medical history. The Court found that further development is needed for these claims.

The Board denied service connection for pancreatitis, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure. However, it granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeals for hepatitis and tuberculosis have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, right arm disorder, and sleep disorder. Service connection is granted for the reopened claim of service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as sleep disorder).,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded.,Service connection for a right arm disorder is remanded.,Service connection for a stomach disorder (claimed as gastroenteritis and ulcers) is remanded.