Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board granted an effective date of March 8, 2024 for the grant of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus but denied earlier effective dates for atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. The other claims were remanded.

The appeal for service connection for depression was dismissed as it is subsumed by the already service-connected PTSD. A 50 percent rating for cluster headaches was granted, and a higher rating for autoimmune hepatitis was denied.

The Board denied a compensable rating for hepatitis C as the evidence did not support intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia or incapacitating episodes during the past 12-month period.

The Board denied service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis B, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and residuals of a liver transplant with shunt implant, stroke, and seizures as the medical evidence did not support a current disability during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 100 percent for lung cancer but granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance, effective December 7, 2022.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for headaches and hepatitis C to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection and denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral musculoligamentous strain, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, right ankle sprain, and allergic rhinitis. Service connection was granted for eczema (claimed as dermatitis) but denied for sinusitis, cirrhosis of the liver, cervical strain, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, and left ankle strain.

The Veteran was granted increased ratings of 60 percent for Hepatitis C prior to September 8, 2016, and 100 percent for anxiety and depression for the entire period on review.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, for purposes of entitlement to dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), as further development is necessary.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for cervical strain with myositis effective July 14, 2016. The claims for increased ratings for unspecified anxiety disorder and hepatitis C were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to hepatitis, finding no evidence that it was related to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his alcohol-related causes of death were etiologically linked to a service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability, back disability, GERD, hepatitis B, atopic dermatitis, and OSA. Tinnitus was denied.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including spinal arthritis of the neck and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the neck/upper back. However, tinnitus was granted, and a 20% rating was assigned for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and related conditions due to a lack of evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to his active service or toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for migraines was granted from October 1, 2019. The claims for service connection for cirrhosis of liver and hepatitis C were remanded.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver with hepatitis C were dismissed due to untimely filing.