Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of communication with the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the extent of his steatohepatitis disability and for readjudication.

The Veteran does not have hepatitis C or a disability that prevents him from engaging in substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, and C, did not develop during his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or connection to service.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's acute autoimmune hepatitis was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for Hepatitis C in January 2007, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to service. The decision is not subject to revision on grounds of clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently evaluated as noncompensable due to the absence of symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, anorexia, or incapacitating episodes. The Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder and PTSD) were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found that the current disabilities are less likely than not related to in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for left pulmonary nodule were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a respiratory disability including bronchitis, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus attributable to service. The claim for alcoholic hepatitis was due to alcohol abuse and filed after October 31, 1990. The left pulmonary nodule has not been shown by competent evidence to result in impairment of pulmonary function.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's Hepatitis C is related to his active service.

The Veteran claims entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C, which he asserts was caused by a blood transfusion during active duty. The case is being remanded due to the lack of inpatient or clinical records related to his claimed exposure and incomplete medical history.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed stressors cannot be verified, and therefore, service connection for PTSD, drug addiction as secondary to PTSD, and Hepatitis C as secondary to PTSD is denied.

The Board denied service connection for depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and COPD. Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The veteran's autoimmune hepatitis is granted service connection, and she receives a 30% initial evaluation for her dyshydrotic eczema. The veteran also receives an initial 10% evaluation for her sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, but the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating. The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver is not service-connected as it is unrelated to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding how the Veteran contracted hepatitis, and further development is needed.