Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his military service and his current condition.

The Veteran's liver cirrhosis was rated at 10 percent prior to July 13, 2012 and increased to 30 percent from July 13, 2012 to April 21, 2015. The rating was then increased to 50 percent from April 21, 2015 to prior to June 25, 2015.,The Veteran's liver cirrhosis is characterized by symptoms such as weakness, abdominal pain, malaise and weight loss during the periods of appeal. The Board found that an increased rating in excess of 30 percent was not warranted for any period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to hepatitis C. The diabetes mellitus type II and acquired psychiatric disability (depression and anxiety) claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver with portal hypertension, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.,Dependency indemnity compensation (DIC) based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death was also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new medical evidence received from Kaiser Permanente, and a SSOC must be issued with an appropriate period for response.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of each acquired psychiatric disorder demonstrated during the appeal period or in proximity to the claim. The Veteran's hepatitis C is denied as it is due to willful misconduct.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support a claim of service connection for hepatitis C, and thus the claim is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient medical evidence. The main issues are left foot disability, lumbar spine disability (secondary to a left foot disability), lung disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C. Additional records need to be obtained from SSA, VA examinations for left foot and noise exposure, addendum opinions on lung disability and hearing loss, and an addendum opinion on hepatitis C.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for hepatitis B and C service connection, as well as a higher rating for thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was due to his own willful misconduct in using illicit intravenous drugs during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, Diabetes Mellitus Type II (DM II), Hypertension, and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) due to new evidence received. The effective date of the grant of service connection for epilepsy is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for periodontal gum disease and hepatitis A have been denied. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for his claimed psychiatric, heart, sleep apnea, neck, upper extremity radiculopathy, head injury residuals, skin disorder, ankle, or knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the likely etiology of any diagnosable hepatitis condition, specifically whether it clearly and unmistakably preexisted service or is otherwise related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, which was diagnosed during the appeal period and linked to in-service risk factors.

The Veteran's chronic hepatitis is characterized by near-constant fatigue, and the Board has granted a disability evaluation of 100 percent for this condition effective May 22, 2017.

The Board has granted the claims for service connection for parotid neoplasm and acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to HIV, but denied the claim for prostatitis. The other conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and service connection for cause of death. The DIC and pension benefits claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for hepatitis C was granted, but the claim of service connection itself remains denied.,Service connection for hemorrhoids is denied as there is no evidence of more than mild or moderate hemorrhoids.