Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) — all decisions

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to missing private medical records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has received new evidence and is remanding the cases for further review by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, eye conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, arthritis, and diabetes. The Veteran's private treatment records are needed, as well as the full set of his service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the inability of the VHA physician to provide clarification regarding his prior medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C remains under review.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted. The PTSD and prostate adenocarcinoma ratings are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and vertigo have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and lichen planus due to incomplete records and need for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for back disability, sleep apnea, heart disability, hypertension, and hepatitis C as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred in wartime service due to herbicide agent exposure. The cause of the Veteran’s death, cardiomyopathy, was found to be related to his now service-connected ischemic heart disease. No benefit remains for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 as the claim is moot. Service connection for a kidney disorder and liver disorder are denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or evidence of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence in some areas, including a VA examination that did not adequately address the Veteran's service connection claim. The claims will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied service connection for alcoholism, hepatitis C, an eye disorder, and a skin disorder as the evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's hepatitis C, tinnitus, and PTSD claims have been denied. The VA has granted a 70% rating for PTSD beginning August 1, 2016, but the effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that December 4, 2017 is the proper effective date based on a reopened claim. The Veteran died in June 2007 and was not previously service-connected for any of the causes of his death.

The Board has decided the PTSD and TDIU claims, denying a higher rating for PTSD and granting a TDIU. The hepatitis C claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative spondylosis of L5 and rheumatoid arthritis (presumed due to hepatitis C), rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 4, 2009. As such, the Board grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran's depressive disorder, however, has been granted service connection.,Service connection for unspecified depressive disorder has been established based on a finding that the condition began during active duty and is related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hepatitis C may be related to his service, specifically the use of air injection guns for immunizations. However, more evidence is needed from a medical expert to confirm this relationship.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine the cause of his condition, with a focus on whether it was incurred during service or related to an in-service injury. The examiner must accept as true the Veteran’s reports regarding proper prophylactic measures taken while working as a phlebotomist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during active service and is not related to any in-service event, injury or disease. The claim for service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a liver disorder and secondary service connection for alcohol use disorder as secondary to his service-connected persistent depressive disorder.