Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by competent medical evidence, and the causal relationship between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD is established.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for alcoholic hepatitis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a relationship between his current hepatitis C diagnosis and in-service risk factors.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. Bilateral hearing loss was shown to have pre-existed his active duty, while hepatitis resolved without residuals during his service.

The Veteran's death was caused by Hepatitis C, which he contracted during his active duty service. The Board finds the evidence as likely as not that the Veteran was exposed to hepatitis C during his service in Vietnam and grants service connection for cause of death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver associated with hepatitis C are not rated higher than 20 percent prior to February 24, 2011, and 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is also not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on the cause of his hepatitis C and whether a thyroid disorder is secondary to hepatitis C.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus type II, a heart disability, and hepatitis C, combined to make him incapable of obtaining and maintaining gainful employment prior to his death. As such, he is granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service, specifically air gun inoculations. The Veteran needs a new examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all his claims on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's liver disease, including cirrhosis of the liver and esophageal varices, is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his active military service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The issues of increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for hearing loss, and service connection for hepatitis C are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to additional development being needed on the claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The Veteran's representative referenced an article that needs to be provided, and if it is, a VA gastroenterologist or infectious disease specialist will provide an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's death pension and accrued benefits claim is being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of his U.S. Navy Reserve service and obtaining his medical records from Balboa Naval Hospital in 1979.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sarcoidosis and neuritis. The denial was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a positive nexus between the condition and active service.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's current hepatitis C disability is not related to his military service, specifically the use of air gun inoculations during service. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's hepatitis C was less likely than not incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver disease and secondary service connection for skin rash, bilateral elbow disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The case is remanded to schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's liver disease and whether any other disabilities are secondary to it.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The issues of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, hepatitis C, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, and an increased evaluation for PTSD are being remanded.