Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected granulomatous hepatitis consistent with sarcoidosis with bilateral hilar adenopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current hepatitis C disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's headache disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected tinnitus. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including referral to the Director of VA's Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU determination. The Veteran is seeking initial compensation ratings for her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service, granting her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was not granted any of these claims.

The Veteran's hepatitis B claim remains on appeal, and the TDIU claim is also pending. The Board has directed further development to be completed by the RO/AMC, including obtaining additional medical records, requesting information from the Veteran for any outstanding evidence, adjudicating the temporary total rating claim, and considering both claims together as they are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and adjudicative action due to a lack of clarity on whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service. The VA examiner will need to provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, specifically addressing his in-service high risk sexual practices.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating may be warranted. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, hepatitis C, and major depressive disorder. The claim for PTSD was reopened but still denied due to lack of a verified in-service stressor. The claim for hepatitis C was not reopened as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. Major depressive disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's spine disabilities, specifically degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, are rated at 20 percent prior to July 9, 2009, and 40 percent beginning from that date. The Veteran also has right lower extremity radiculopathy as a neurological manifestation of his spine disability, which is separately rated at 10 percent prior to July 9, 2009, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression), erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and several types of neuropathy. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining missing documents and VA treatment records, as well as SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he suffers from current bilateral arm, knee, lumbar spine, hepatitis C, and skin conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for Hepatitis C, schizophrenia (application to reopen), and PTSD. The Veteran is scheduled for a hearing at the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and residuals of a right femur injury, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not manifested by intermittent fatigue, malaise, anorexia, or incapacitating episodes prior to January 11, 2013. Therefore, the claim for a compensable disability rating is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection for cause of death and burial benefits, including obtaining his complete STRs from his Reserve service.

The Board found that the Veteran's liver disorder, including cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C, was not incurred or aggravated during service. The examiner opined it is less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's death was caused by end stage cirrhosis and hepatitis B/C. The cause of his death, respiratory arrest, is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a service connection for these conditions during his lifetime.