Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) — all decisions

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 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 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 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.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Hepatitis C.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is not a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's service connection for Hepatitis A is denied. The rating of 10 percent for right elbow epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) is granted effective August 31, 2015. For the period prior to October 2, 2012, a 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage of the right knee is granted. For the period beginning October 2, 2012, a rating in excess of 10 percent for symptomatic residuals of a right knee meniscectomy is denied. A separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee is granted.

The Veteran's service connection for Hepatitis A is denied. The rating of 10 percent for right elbow epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) is granted effective August 31, 2015. For the period prior to October 2, 2012, a 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage of the right knee is granted. For the period beginning October 2, 2012, a rating in excess of 10 percent for symptomatic residuals of a right knee meniscectomy is denied. A separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for cause of death (DIC) and under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the cause of death.

The Veteran's autoimmune hepatitis with history of hepatic encephalopathy is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7312. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted as her symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for Hepatitis C and left foot condition due to potential new evidence received by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung condition (including sarcoidosis and COPD), hypertension, and liver disease (including cirrhosis) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that an expert opinion from an infectious disease specialist is needed to address whether the Veteran's hepatitis C infection was caused by VA treatment in 2007 and/or 2008, and if so, whether it was due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instances of fault.

The Board has granted a TDIU from December 31, 2012 based on the combined effects of service-connected depression and hepatitis C. The initial compensable rating for hepatitis C is dismissed as part of a withdrawn claim.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus type II have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service. The Veteran will need to provide updated information about his military service and VA will obtain relevant records.

The Board dismissed the appeals to reopen service connection for various conditions and denied claims of service connection due to lack of notification from the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, including a possible exposure during military service. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and will require further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic Hepatitis C is being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding its etiology. The VA examiner needs to consider all available information, including the Veteran's statements about his military service and any potential exposure.