Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis B and hepatitis C due to a lack of VA examination, which is necessary to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and psoriasis. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted.

The appeal for service connection on all claimed conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of the 70 percent rating for cirrhosis is granted, as her condition did not improve to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and review of records. The issues include hepatitis, depression, anxiety, and a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of death. The case is being remanded for a VA opinion regarding the causes of cirrhosis and diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C may be related to his service and is requesting additional VA treatment records. The case will be remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for sinusitis and GERD and cirrhosis of the liver due to insufficient evidence or further clarification from the Veteran. The current ratings are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's initial rating for liver fibrosis is denied as his symptoms do not warrant a higher than 10 percent evaluation. The TDIU claim is also denied due to the Veteran meeting the schedular criteria and having other service-connected disabilities that allow him to work.

The Board denied service connection for liver cancer, hepatitis C, and kidney disability. The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to liver cancer with a contributory cause of cardiac dysrhythmia.

The Veteran's new or additional disabilities, including diverticulitis and anastomotic leak complications, were caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA during his June 1, 2010 sigmoidectomy at Huntington VAMC. The Board found that these disabilities were proximately caused by VA treatment and granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and hepatitis C. The decision on hearing loss is that it was not incurred in or caused by his military service, while the hepatitis C claim was withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for glaucoma, hearing loss, and hepatitis C due to incomplete examination records. The Veteran was not contacted by VA for examinations related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hepatitis C are remanded due to the passage of time since his last VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the rating decision and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder and related conditions. The issues are now pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further development. The issues include arthritis, hearing loss, cold weather injuries, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia, GERD, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's only service-connected condition, hepatitis C, did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period from December 9, 2008 to March 2, 2014. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been rated at 10 percent since August 2003. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they are intermittent and do not require dietary restriction or continuous medication.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate rationale in a June 2021 VA opinion regarding the Veteran's chronic liver disability without cirrhosis. The examiner did not provide sufficient information on whether the condition is related to service, including an in-service hepatitis B infection.