Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to hepatitis C. The claim of service connection for a disability of the back, legs, and hands is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for hepatitis C was established based on in-service diagnosis and current manifestations, with consideration given to risk factors such as jet gun inoculations and HAA+ hepatitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, finding no probative evidence of a current diagnosis related to active service.

The claim for hepatitis C service connection is not reopened.,The claim for PTSD service connection is remanded due to the need for further verification of in-service stressors and a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have onset during active service and was not caused by his active service.

The Veteran's cirrhosis was diagnosed in 2017, over fifty years after service. The Board found that the cirrhosis did not result from an in-service event and is not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his PTSD was related to a stressor during active service and contributed significantly to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis and remanded the issue of service connection for cholangiocarcinoma (claimed as liver cancer). The denial is based on a lack of evidence of current disability. Service connection for cholangiocarcinoma will be remanded to obtain a VA opinion regarding its etiology.

Service connection is granted for a right eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C. The right eye disorder is related to service due to trauma from boxing matches. Bilateral hearing loss is linked to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus is secondary to the Veteran's hearing loss. Hepatitis C is associated with in-service injections.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his claims for service connection are all granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected hepatitis C, finding that he was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been denied as new and material evidence was not received. The claims for PTSD, a separate acquired psychiatric disorder (to include schizophrenia), hypertension, and right-side paresis have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II, related to herbicide exposure in Thailand, has been reopened and granted. The claim for hepatitis B remains pending as new evidence supports reopening but the service connection is remanded.,The Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II was not present during his active duty service or within one year post-service, nor can it be linked to any other condition. However, he has provided credible testimony and supporting documentation indicating exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand.

The Veteran's right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,An effective date of October 12, 2010 for the increased rating of hepatitis C has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet decided whether the evidence is sufficient to grant these claims.,Further development is needed to determine if there are any new and material pieces of evidence that could support the reopening of the claims.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, hepatitis-C, psoriatic arthritis, and related issues are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The effective dates for hepatitis-C and psoriatic arthritis in the hands are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of hepatitis C, specifically whether it is related to in-service tattoos and air gun inoculations. The Veteran's service records show a diagnosis of hepatitis B during service, but no direct link to his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's NASH is attributable to his service, specifically during his second period of active duty from March 2003 to February 2004. Service connection for NASH is granted.

The claims to reopen service connection for various conditions have been granted. The specific disabilities are autoimmune disorder, fibromyalgia, IBS, residuals of cysts removal from the left ankle, numbness and neuropathy in the left thigh, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, pre-cancerous polyps, arthritis, NASH, and a heart condition.

The Board has dismissed all the claims of service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and a bilateral ankle disability due to insufficient communication with the Veteran.