Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of in-service hospitalization records and need for supplemental medical opinions regarding hepatitis and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hepatitis C resulted from his voluntary use of intravenous drugs during service, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to compensation for this disability as it was caused by his own willful misconduct.

The Veteran's HCV has been manifested by daily fatigue and malaise with hepatomegaly, but not by daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia, with substantial weight loss (or other indication of malnutrition), and hepatomegaly, or incapacitating episodes; nor does he have a history of one episode of ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or hemorrhage from varices or portal gastropathy. Prior to October 26, 2011, the schedular criteria for a 40 percent rating for HCV have been met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hepatitis C, but further development is needed to decide the merits of the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, but the issue of secondary service connection for bipolar disorder to include as secondary to hepatitis C is not resolved due to lack of a VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a comprehensive psychiatric examination to determine the diagnoses of any currently manifested psychiatric disorder(s).

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if he currently has these conditions.,The Veteran also seeks service connection for his peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine when this condition resolved, if at all, as well as whether it is related to his military service or service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis C, and thus the claim for service connection for this condition must be denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability has been granted.,His hepatitis C disability is rated at 20% since December 11, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA and SSA records, which may contain pertinent information relevant to the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is as likely as not a result of his in-service vaccinations and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is service connected, finding it at least as likely as not that he contracted the virus during his military service due to personal high risk behaviors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's AIH, status post liver transplant with complications and secondary conditions is related to his service, specifically his presumed exposure to Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The Veteran's testimony and VA treatment records suggest a current diagnosis of hepatitis C that had onset in service, but further examination is needed to determine if this is the same disease as the one diagnosed in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA medical records. The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C service connection and psychiatric disability reopening will be reviewed after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is still pending for a rating increase for PTSD and service connection for hepatitis C. The case has been remanded to schedule the Veteran for a video conference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing. The appeal will be returned to the RO after the scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for viral hepatitis is being remanded due to the need for additional hospitalization records. The claims for increased evaluation of depression and temporary total rating are also being remanded as there appear to be outstanding treatment records.