Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, left ankle condition, right ankle condition (claimed as residuals of right ankle sprain), and vision condition. Service connection was remanded for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension were also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a liver condition, including fatty liver and hepatitis C, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune. The VA medical opinion found that the Veteran's current liver conditions are less likely related to his in-service exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal that his October 25, 2019 notice of disagreement was timely filed. The claims for service connection are being remanded to allow the RO to address each issue.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his active military service, and there is no evidence linking the conditions that caused his death (cardiopulmonary arrest, cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) to his time in service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied a compensable rating. Service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder, pelvis cancer, spinal cancer, prostate cancer, hepatitis C, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, ED, and liver condition are all denied.

The appellant withdrew her claims for an initial compensable rating and a higher rating for hepatitis and chronic liver disease with primary sclerosing cholangitis, which were dismissed due to the withdrawal.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and tinnitus, finding no current disability during the appeal period. The Veteran's claim for liver damage was remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for liver damage was not granted as there was no daily symptoms or incapacitating episodes within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his in-service risk factors. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for hepatitis C is denied because there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, hypertension, lower back disability, skeletal arthritis, skin disability, bilateral eye disability, and bilateral sinus disability have all been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,Specifically, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss according to VA standards and has no current diagnosis of hepatitis or residuals related to a previous diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, fatigue symptoms including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and an acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate reasoning and lack of clarity in the medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 15, 2022 for service connection of hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence that he filed any other formal or informal claims for this condition before the effective date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development, particularly regarding a possible diagnosis of ischemic heart disease (CAD) from an August 2002 SSA record. The VA examiner's opinions need to be revised to consider this new evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricable link with his service-connected PTSD and the need for SSA records. The rating for his newly service-connected psychiatric disorder must be determined first.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his hepatitis C, finding that he does not have current signs or symptoms attributable to hepatitis C and no incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated at 20 percent, and his skin disorder is assigned a noncompensable rating prior to February 20, 2019. The Board denied increased ratings for both conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver, steatosis/fatty liver and status post cholecystectomy was granted with a 10% rating effective May 21, 2008. The appeal sought higher ratings for this condition prior to October 1, 2011, from October 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011, and since March 31, 2011. The Board denied these claims as the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death. The Veteran's causes of death are being reviewed, including consideration of probative medical research submitted by the Appellant.

The Veteran's diabetes is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service heat stroke, bacterial pneumonia, mumps vaccine, rubella vaccine, or hepatitis A vaccine.