Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Veteran seeks service connection for hepatitis C. The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C and whether it is related to his military service, including air gun inoculations received during service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the claim of service connection for hepatitis C, and thus the claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran and a request for review of such evidence by the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer are rated at 40% prior to November 8, 2014 and at 60% thereafter. The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis B is currently not symptomatic and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for cirrhosis, bilateral pes planus, and TDIU have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hepatitis C was not incurred in service and is not otherwise related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of a left hand injury, sinus condition, hypertension, hepatitis C, and headaches. The claim for service connection of neck disability was granted but with mixed results (some issues were granted while others were not).

The Veteran's death was caused by a probable myocardial infarction, with underlying causes including hypertension and alcohol liver cirrhosis. The cause of the seizures is unclear, but they are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to address whether hepatitis C is etiologically related to active duty service or had its onset during active duty service, specifically due to in-service vaccinations and complaints of upper quadrant pain, malaise, and headaches.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and is not related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the condition is linked to his time in the armed forces.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or back disability, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The psychiatric disability claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to September 24, 2008 did not meet or approximate the percentage requirements for entitlement to a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, the claim must be remanded so that it can be referred to VA's Director, Compensation Service, for initial consideration on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and provide a VA examination for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed hepatitis C was as likely as not caused by in-service immunization via air gun. The Board granted service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (cardiopulmonary arrest, metastatic colon cancer and end stage liver cirrhosis) was not attributable to service or a service-connected disability. The preponderance of evidence did not support any connection between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is not shown to be related to his service, and the Board finds that it was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability. The other claims of service connection are denied as well.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis B was not incurred during service and is not related to his military service. The remaining issues of service connection for knee meniscal tears, disc disease with chronic low back pain, sleep apnea, and shoulder rotator cuff tears were denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating greater than 10 percent for Hepatitis C has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been granted service connection, but the effective date for this grant is being determined based on when the claim was filed and whether an increase in disability occurred within one year prior to the filing of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service, including air gun inoculations received in active service. The claim for service connection is denied.