Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for Hepatitis C was dismissed.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was reopened and granted. The appeal of his claim for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and Hepatitis B were also dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and acute hepatitis with kidney and liver problems are denied. The Veteran is granted a 30 percent evaluation for right ulnar neuropathy prior to August 21, 2014, but his claim for higher ratings for PTSD from that date forward remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including service connection claims for various conditions and a TDIU rating. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for VA examinations.

The Veteran's hepatitis C caused daily fatigue and malaise, but not anorexia or weight loss. He had incapacitating episodes lasting at least four weeks in the past year. The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for hepatitis C prior to April 5, 2016, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. However, he was granted TDIU from April 27, 2012.

The Veteran's right thumb disability, hepatitis C, and cirrhosis of the liver were evaluated. The right thumb disability was denied a compensable rating. Hepatitis C was denied ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to April 23, 2015 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. Cirrhosis of the liver was also denied ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to May 23, 2013 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed because the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as the evidence did not support that it began during active service or was related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for polyarthritis of multiple joints and hepatitis C are granted. The claim for hepatitis C is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal request. The claim for polyarthritis of multiple joints is granted as it was documented in service during the applicable presumptive period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current conditions, particularly his heart and liver disorders which are believed to be related to a viral illness in April 1973 during active duty. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records and schedule appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was caused by an in-service blood transfusion performed prior to 1992 after the left thigh puncture wound.,The Veteran's back and hip disorders are not service-connected as they did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking them to a service-connected condition.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service, including air gun injections. The evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's in-service vaccinations and his later diagnosed hepatitis C.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for Hepatitis A and PTSD, so these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied because the evidence did not show a current diagnosis of hepatitis C, and the secondary service connection claim failed due to the Veteran's alcohol and substance abuse being considered willful misconduct.