Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to chronic alcohol abuse with hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, finding that there was no clear medical evidence establishing that alcohol abuse was caused by a primary service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis, bilateral vision loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, and knee scars. The Veteran did not have current disabilities related to these conditions at the time of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.,There is no evidence of current hepatitis or residuals of hepatitis documented in the medical record.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, kidney stones, hemochromatosis, malaria, and hepatitis B.,For each condition, the decision stated there was no competent evidence that suggests it was incurred or aggravated during a period of active duty or ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's hypertension, spondylolisthesis L5-S1, and residuals of hepatitis A for accrued benefits purposes are granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted on an accrued basis.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted on an accrued basis.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from January 26, 2011 to April 27, 2012 due to his service-connected hepatitis C. The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C rendered him unemployable during this period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for GERD, finding that it is not related to his in-service gastrointestinal complaints or his service-connected psychiatric condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hepatitis C as they are no longer relevant due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver, gastroesophageal disability (including GERD and Barrett's esophagus), heart disability other than CAD (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation), and erectile dysfunction are all granted. However, due to insufficient evidence, several issues related to these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a potential service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, hepatitis C, bilateral pes planus, and a residual kidney disability, status post left kidney removal. The evidence supports the conclusion that these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain with degenerative joint disease is granted an increased rating of 40 percent, but no higher. The claim for hepatitis C and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has ordered additional development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic liver disease, including hepatitis C, and TDIU. The remand includes obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an opinion from a qualified examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability, hepatitis C, COPD, AAA, and PVD have been denied. The issues of service connection for a bilateral ear injury and peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities remain pending and are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral dry eye condition but denied service connection for hepatitis. The Veteran's current symptoms of dry eye syndrome are found to be related to his military service, while the hepatitis is resolved and not currently diagnosed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous depiction of his disability. He may now have cirrhosis, which could affect his current rating.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis B as it was not caused by exposure to Agent Orange or service-connected conditions, including hepatocellular carcinoma and portal hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C, as there is insufficient evidence to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's hepatitis B residuals are rated at 10 percent prior to January 3, 2017, and at 20 percent as of that date. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his military service and his fatal cancer.