Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2001

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 10 percent, and his diabetes mellitus, hypertension, alcoholic hepatitis, sinusitis, and kidney stones are each rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating or pension benefits due to unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and dismissed the appeal regarding memory loss. The veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, right otitis media, bilateral eustachian tube dysfunction, and hypertension are pending.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis with yellow jaundice due to new and material evidence submitted since the February 1993 rating decision.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis, finding that new and material evidence had been presented. The claim is now before the Board to determine if service connection should be granted.

The Board has found no evidence of a current disability related to the veteran's in-service hepatitis infection, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The veteran's representative provided information about a stressor during his Vietnam service, which was not previously considered in the previous denial.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine with radiculopathy, depression, hepatitis B, appendectomy scar, skin rash, hemorrhoids, right wrist keloid, epididymitis, chronic prostatitis, impotency, colon disorder, anemia, and sinusitis. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death, hepatitis C, was not incurred or aggravated in line of duty during service and is therefore not service-connected.

The veteran's hepatitis B and related complications are not considered to be a result of VA medical treatment, thus his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C is denied as he does not have current infections or related liver disease.

The case is being remanded to the RO for the veteran's opportunity to provide testimony before the Board at a video conference hearing. The RO should then return the case to the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to changes in VA regulations and the need for additional service records, as well as post-service medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis and therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied service connection for poliomyelitis in December 1949 and January 1955, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection. The RO later granted service connection for residuals of anterior poliomyelitis with an effective date of August 11, 1997.

The Board has determined that the VA examination was inadequate and remands the case for further development, including scheduling a comprehensive VA examination to determine if the veteran's hepatitis was incurred in service.

The Board has found that the veteran's service connection claims for polyps or leukoplakia of the vocal cords and hepatitis have been granted. The veteran was previously denied these claims due to lack of evidence, but new medical evidence has now reopened them.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for infectious hepatitis has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his current conditions and their relationship to service. The RO will also need to address whether he is entitled to a higher rating for PTSD.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims as they were not timely appealed.