Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues and the need for a Travel Board hearing. The specific conditions of prostate cancer, bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and bilateral glaucoma are still under consideration.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for hepatitis C was withdrawn during his April 2015 Board hearing. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and assist the Veteran in obtaining private treatment records, and to schedule a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling prior to October 19, 2012 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU prior to October 19, 2012 remains pending as part of his PTSD claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and hepatitis, as well as his claim for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus. The PTSD rating was also denied, with a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss not granted.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and hepatitis C were not found to warrant higher ratings, and his TDIU claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hepatitis C disability was not incurred in or caused by active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis and genetic hemochromatosis caused his chronic liver disease, which resulted in a liver transplant. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reports and need for updated medical opinions.

The Veteran's death was caused by thrombocytopenia, which the VA medical opinion concluded was due to his service-connected liver disease. The Board finds that the fatal liver disease originated during service and grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for rhinosinusitis with headaches, and the issue of tension headaches is being reopened. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hepatitis C was denied. The Board found that the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent from May 9, 2001 to April 26, 2002 and from June 14, 2005 to February 6, 2012 were not met. For the periods from April 1, 2003 to September 27, 2004 and since February 7, 2012, the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent were also not met.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis has been rated at 30 percent since October 25, 2005. The Board finds that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for consideration of TDIU from October 25, 2005 to February 8, 2006, and from September 1, 2006 to July 21, 2011, and from September 30, 2011 to August 29, 2012. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability during these periods.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) on several issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient detail in the May 2015 examination report and needs clarification on whether the Veteran's participation in sexual activity with multiple prostitutes while serving in Germany was a cause of his current hepatitis C.

The Veteran's cancer and hepatitis C were not service-connected, and there is no evidence that they were caused by in-service exposure to herbicides. The Board finds the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's service-connected condition contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his hepatitis C claim will also be scheduled for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, a nervous disorder, sleep apnea, and left knee degenerative joint disease were denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions in service or within the presumptive period following service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis with decompensated liver function have been granted initial ratings of 40 percent each, effective January 29, 2008. A separate rating for malignant hepatocellular carcinoma has also been granted.