Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hepatitis C is being remanded as well.

The Veteran's infectious hepatitis is currently rated at 10 percent, effective November 3, 2008. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia. Service connection for MDD was granted as secondary to infectious hepatitis.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his intravenous drug abuse during active service, and as such, he cannot establish service connection due to willful misconduct. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's substance abuse disorder, including alcohol and cocaine abuse, is not found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected depression. The Veteran has been diagnosed with hepatitis C, but it is not related to his in-service use of intravenous drugs and/or intranasal cocaine.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed hepatitis C was as likely as not caused by in-service air gun inoculations, and service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied both claims for service connection for cause of death and DIC benefits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his hearing loss was incurred during active service. The appeal regarding hepatitis was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision.

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

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been rated as noncompensable, but a 10 percent rating is granted for the initial evaluation period.

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

The Board found that hepatitis C was not present during service and is not etiologically related to any incident of active duty service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis was dismissed. The Board granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that his degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease had its onset in service.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute bronchopneumonia, with other conditions contributing to his death but not resulting in the underlying cause. The Board found no evidence supporting a claim of VA treatment causing or aggravating the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily PTSD and hepatitis C, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for hepatitis C, a gynecological infection disability (PID), and uterine fibroids. The Veteran's statements suggest that these conditions may be related to in-service events.

The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and hepatitis C, finding no evidence of a causal link to military service or exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claim was decided on the merits.

The Veteran claims service connection for hepatitis C. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his diagnosed hepatitis C, which may be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination for his hepatitis C and hypertension, as well as to obtain a nexus opinion regarding the relationship between his hypertension and service-connected PTSD. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hepatitis C. The Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence of a stressor or a causal link to his military service.