Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B and a compensable rating for his service-connected hepatitis C due to incomplete information in the medical records.

The Veteran's hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver is rated at 100 percent prior to January 7, 2022. The Board has remanded for further development regarding his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a liver disorder, other than hepatitis C (including fatty liver disease and liver cysts).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis, hepatitis C, and liver fibrosis are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to his military service, specifically his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service exposure to toxins, specifically Vietnam service during the Vietnam War era.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis A, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis A began during his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for Hepatitis C due to concerns about the adequacy of previous medical opinions and the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding it to be related to in-service military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected pension claim was denied because he did not serve during a period of wartime for pension eligibility purposes, and his service-connected disabilities were incurred during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination and duty-to-assist errors, including a need for an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's liver conditions and obesity. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's hepatic hemangioma and NAFLD/early NASH, as well as whether his service-connected PTSD and lumbosacral strain with arthritis caused or aggravated his obesity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of hepatitis C, finding that there is no causal relationship between his in-service vaccinations and his current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination and corresponding opinions addressing each claim on a direct incurrence basis, with consideration of the Veteran's contentions of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and inguinal/ventral hernias as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran is granted a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the rate equal to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) effective October 26, 2021 due to his service-connected post stroke disabilities associated with hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's kidney disease is service connected, but has remanded for further development regarding his liver condition.

The Veteran's hepatitis B and GERD disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since April 2022, but the Board has denied a higher rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for hepatitis C is being remanded due to a failure to report to the scheduled examination and unclear notification issues.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no one has requested substitution for him.

The Board has granted readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that new and relevant evidence supports reopening the previously denied claim.

The appeal was dismissed for the issues of an increased rating for schizophrenia and TDIU, and service connection for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to active service.