Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD secondary to his service-connected cirrhosis was denied. The Board finds that VA's duty to assist had been triggered and requires a medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's GERD, including whether it is related to his service-connected cirrhosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and Hepatitis B caused his obesity, which in turn caused his obstructive sleep apnea. As a result, the claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of the current 10 percent disability ratings for diverticulitis and right wrist fracture, as well as a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, are denied.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for hepatitis C and denied the claim of service connection for body rashes. The claim of service connection for hypertension is being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need new examinations to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for hepatitis C was dismissed because the notice of disagreement was filed more than 30 years after the March 1993 rating decision, which granted service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C, specifically his potential exposure during basic training and high-risk sexual activity in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error and the need for an additional VA medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board has dismissed the appeals because the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for hepatitis C prior to May 6, 2021.,The issue of TDIU is being remanded due to a failure to address it in the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's death, caused by liver cancer, was related to service. The appellant contends that the liver cancer is linked to air gun immunizations, a nail in the foot, or tattoos during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hyperlipidemia, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, liver condition, kidney condition, renal toxicity, and anemia due to a lack of examination or opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's service at Camp Lejeune is also unclear.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, left hand disorder (including thumb), right arm disorder, back disorder, sinus disorder, and Hepatitis C have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that would support these claims.

The Veteran's atherosclerosis is granted as presumptively related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for service connection for cirrhosis and hepatitis C are remanded due to the need for VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his exposure to herbicide agents in active service, and he had current disabilities of cardiac pulmonary arrest, cirrhosis, acute kidney disease, and portal hypertension. The Board found that these conditions were as likely as not caused by exposure to herbicide agents in active service and contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hepatitis and melanoma of the face and back as secondary to exposure at Camp Lejeune due to a lack of medical opinion meeting PACT Act requirements.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service.,The Veteran's fibrosis due to Hepatitis C claim has been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for portal vein thrombosis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Hepatitis C, finding that the condition was aggravated by his hepatitis.

The Board denied service connection for liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between active service and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, steatohepatitis (fatty liver), testicular cancer, and prostatitis. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of symptoms during active duty service and VA medical opinions supporting a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.