Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for Hepatitis B is denied as he does not have current symptoms of the condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver have been reopened due to new and material evidence. However, his claim for prostate cancer remains denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Prostate cancer was not found based on the lack of a current diagnosis in the medical records.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to September 17, 2015 due to daily fatigue and malaise with hepatomegaly. From September 18, 2015 forward, the Veteran's condition is rated at 10 percent as his hepatitis C is in remission.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and hepatic cirrhosis are granted with separate ratings, while the cellulitis is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder, hepatitis C, liver disease and cirrhosis, but denied service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, respiratory disability.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disability, including cirrhosis of the liver, as due to exposure to water contaminants at Camp Lejeune or to herbicide agents. An initial evaluation of 10 percent was granted for hypertension.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's gastric cancer and whether his service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed to his death. The VA will obtain treatment records from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and any other relevant sources, as well as a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim requires obtaining updated treatment records, including VA records. For his anxiety disorder, a new VA psychiatric examination is needed due to the significant time since his last evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim and that it does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B because there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C and for an effective date earlier than December 17, 2015 for the grant of service connection for hepatitis C (originally claimed as hepatic dysfunction) has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, hearing loss, rosacea, autoimmune hepatitis, hepatic steatosis, residuals of liver transplant, surgical scar, and hepatic encephalitis were all denied as they are not service-connected.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and PTSD have been rated at their current levels since March 14, 2012. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee impairment and hepatitis C, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link to service. The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 10 percent.,The Board has remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for acne scars due to insufficient information regarding the characteristics of disfigurement.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange), and whether it was due to VA negligence in diagnosing or treating his anal carcinoma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and hepatitis C were denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent evaluation for the entire appeal period, hepatitis C service connection is denied, and tinea versicolor receives a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for PTSD, DM, hepatitis C and fatty liver, a skin condition, and a heart disability. The claims are remanded for further development.

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