Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining medical records from private providers and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a medical opinion and to consider whether new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of Hepatitis.

The Veteran's alcohol and substance abuse are related to his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorders, which is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's HCV is likely due to his service, specifically the use of an air gun for inoculations. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development and a new medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing service treatment records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claim of hepatitis C service connection is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis B was denied, and his claims for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis prior to October 20, 2014, and for a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter were also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40% and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted for this condition. The Veteran was also granted service connection for Hepatitis C, an upper back disorder as secondary to degenerative disc disease (DDD), and upper extremity pain as secondary to a service connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him permanently bedridden or unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. The Veteran does not have a single service-connected disability rated 100 percent with separate service-connected disabilities ratable at 60 percent or more, nor is he permanently confined to his immediate premises as a result of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for tuberculosis, hepatitis, and sinusitis due to lack of service connection. The heart murmur claim was granted but later severed due to clear and unmistakable error. The Veteran's inguinal hernia and hemorrhoids were not rated as compensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not manifest within one year of separation from service and there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service, specifically air gun immunizations. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, hepatitis C, and liver damage due to inadequate development and compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not related to his active service, and concluded that it is more likely than not caused by his own IV drug use rather than any risk factors associated with his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C is granted, as the medical evidence supports a finding that he contracted hepatitis C during his military service. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of hepatitis B is remanded.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has not been shown to meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7354, as there is no evidence of anorexia or incapacitating episodes lasting one week or more. As such, his claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a present disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied. The claim for hepatitis C was remanded but no further action could be taken due to lack of records.