Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The claim of service connection for hepatitis has been reopened, but further development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing the Veteran and his representative with a copy of the curriculum vitae of the VA examiner who conducted the January 14, 2020 examination related to hepatitis C.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his schizophrenia and alcohol abuse were incurred or aggravated by his active-duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, hepatitis, or hiatal hernia. The appeal for service connection for these conditions is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a liver condition, including liver cancer due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's exposure to risk factors for hepatitis C is being sought from his military service.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is granted as the treatment was rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for hepatitis C and remanded the claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver prior to March 27, 2017 was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities alone were not sufficient to prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to in-service herbicide exposure and secondary conditions. The issues include DM, hepatitis C, HTN, a skin condition (excluding tinea versicolor), including eczema and dermatitis, and kidney failure.

The Board has denied service connection for Hepatitis B and Mononucleosis as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for additional development, including obtaining records from Dr. G.P. regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C treatment regimen.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain inpatient treatment records from Fort Benning Medical Center for hepatitis and secondary service connection. The case is remanded due to inadequate examination regarding drug abuse use.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis was denied. The rating for PTSD prior to January 8, 2020, and the request for TDIU prior to that date were also denied. However, a grant of TDIU as of January 8, 2020, was granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death due to new and material evidence submitted by the appellant. The Veteran's cause of death was caused by gastrointestinal bleed, esophageal varices, hepatocellular carcinoma, end stage liver disease, and liver cirrhosis.,The appellant contends that the Veteran's hepatitis C may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam. The Board finds a remand necessary for an addendum opinion on both issues.

The Veteran's lung disability claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a lung disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is granted based on in-service noise exposure, but not related to service due to aggravation by post-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a liver disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, bilateral ankles, and arthritis of his entire body. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's Hepatitis C had its onset during service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.