Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded both claims of service connection for hepatitis C and its residuals due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's exposure to air gun inoculations during military service, which is considered part of his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hepatitis B and C with portal fibrosis and cirrhosis was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is remanded as VA needs to obtain his private treatment records from a liver specialist.

The Board denied the claim of accrued benefits as new and material evidence was not received, even though the appellant filed her claim within one year of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for hepatitis C, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not considered severe enough for VA disability compensation.,His right ear hearing loss was noted at entry and did not worsen during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for hepatitis C, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's liver condition, including hepatitis C, is not related to his service and has denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for hepatitis C as there is no new evidence or argument submitted since the previous final decision.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the claims for service connection for various hand and finger disabilities, right knee disability, hepatitis C, and left thumb fracture residuals. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's death was not related to his military service and the cause of death, cirrhosis due to alcohol dependence, is not linked to any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from sepsis, and the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date for hepatitis C and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The VA will adjudicate these issues first, then readjudicate the increased evaluation for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease, lower back and related left leg neuropathy have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to military service.,The Veteran's hepatitis C has not met the criteria for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent due to his current symptoms being consistent with the current rating.,The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver has not met the criteria for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent due to his current symptoms being consistent with the current rating.

The Board denied service connection for a liver condition and aplastic anemia, finding that the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is caused or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) traits, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, specifically due to exposure through the use of a jet injector gun for inoculation in service. As such, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and hepatitis C were previously denied, but new evidence was submitted after his death. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,Service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to hepatocellular carcinoma metastatic and hepatitis C virus infection is denied as none of his service-connected disabilities were a principal or contributory cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected bronchial asthma and hepatitis C, TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and SMC based on housebound status from August 1, 2009. Additional development is required in each case.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that the preponderance of evidence does not support a link between the condition and the Veteran's active duty service.