Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of Hepatitis C because no new and material evidence was submitted, despite the Veteran's assertions about in-service exposure.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. As a result, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examination conducted in December 2017 is incomplete and requires an addendum to consider both DSM-IV and DSM-V criteria for diagnosing PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorders. The issues of service connection for substance abuse, hepatitis C (as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder), and hepatitis C (as secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder and substance abuse) are also remanded due to their inextricable ties with the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder and residuals of hepatitis, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C, lumbosacral disc degeneration with narrowing, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD are all denied. The Veteran is not granted higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran may have had hepatitis C at any time during the claim or approximate thereto, and it is related to service. However, due to a lack of medical evidence on this issue, the case must be remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Hepatitis C and Sarcoidosis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions during service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and the medical opinion considered all possible risk factors and found no link to service.

The reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for Hepatitis C from 100 percent to 20 percent, effective February 1, 2015, was improper and the 100 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology, as the current evidence is insufficient to determine if they are related to her exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to determine service connection for hepatitis C and a higher rating for CAD.

The Board denied a compensable initial rating for hepatitis C prior to May 20, 2016 and a rating in excess of 10 percent after May 20, 2016, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant such ratings based on VA examination reports and treatment records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for defective vision, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for PTSD effective October 27, 2003. Other claims remain pending.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis B and posttraumatic stress disorder have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is being remanded for a new examination to determine if it is related to her appendectomy or exposure as a medical technician during active service.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability due to sexual trauma claimed as major depression (to include PTSD) with no sleep, forgetfulness is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran’s claim for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. chapter 17 for an acquired psychiatric disability due to sexual trauma claimed as major depression (to include PTSD) with no sleep, forgetfulness is being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any in-service event and the Veteran's current diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Hepatitis C has been withdrawn.,The claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for iliac nerve damage caused by VA surgical treatment in December 2008 is denied as the evidence does not show that the additional disability was proximately caused by negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for hepatitis is granted. The initial 100 percent rating for schizoaffective disorder, effective from September 9, 2009, is granted. Higher initial ratings for lumbar strain and lower extremity radiculopathy are denied. A TDIU prior to September 29, 2009, is granted.

The Veteran's liver disease other than hepatitis B was not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition, and the Board found no evidence of secondary service connection.