Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, toenail fungus, hepatitis C, a left hand/thumb disorder, and right hand disorders. The claim for a right knee disorder is remanded due to the failure of the October 2020 VA examiner to discuss in-service treatment.

The Veteran's steatohepatitis disability is related to the in-service use of isoniazid, and the Board finds service connection for this condition is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver cancer. The appellant did not file a claim for accrued benefits within one year of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver cancer. The appellant did not file a claim for accrued benefits within one year of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hepatitis C prior to October 20, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter has been dismissed. The case is remanded for further development regarding the TDIU claim.

Service connection is granted for GERD (acid reflux).,Service connection is denied for Hepatitis C and Sleep apnea.,The claim of service connection for asthma remains pending and requires further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back condition have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and esophageal varices, finding that these conditions are related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. Service connection for depression was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.,The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the Veteran had pre-existing left and right ankle disabilities or lower extremity neuropathy prior to service. The claims are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim was denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's thoracic back condition claim was denied due to lack of in-service injury and insufficient continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he is already receiving a total schedular rating for his service-connected disabilities, and no single disability alone establishes unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's liver disability, skin cancer, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all being reviewed.

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in the Veteran's claims for emphysema and hepatitis C, requiring further examination to determine if these conditions are service-connected.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include hepatitis C and Non-A Non-B hepatitis due to a positive blood test during service. The VA examiner's opinion is deemed inadequate, and a new examination is required.

The Board has found that the Veteran's May 5, 2020 notice of disagreement (NOD) was timely filed in response to the March 20, 2020 Statement of the Case. As a result, the appeal is granted for the issues related to hepatitis C and reopening claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a head injury, depression, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of cirrhosis of the liver, resulting in its dismissal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for an adequate medical opinion regarding whether his diagnosed cirrhosis and other symptoms are sequalae of his prior hepatitis C infection.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to hepatitis C, finding that there is no evidence linking the causes of death to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for gout and bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination.,For lumbosacral strain, right knee degenerative arthritis, fatty liver disease (claimed as hepatitis C), and bilateral hearing loss, service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of complete service medical records and insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's hepatitis C. The Veteran is entitled to an examination to determine if his current condition was caused by herbicide exposure during service.