Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran's current hepatitis is not related to military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and denied service connection for a scar of the upper left arm.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for various conditions, an increased rating for asthma, and a need for additional medical examinations. The case is being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, low back disorder (previously characterized as developmental anomaly of the lumbar spine), hypertension, edema of the feet, ankles, hands, abdomen, and face, diabetes mellitus, abnormal laboratory findings, fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, liver disability (to include cirrhosis), respiratory (lung) disability, osteoarthritis of the major and minor joints, eye disability, tremors of the upper extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, Meniere's syndrome, headaches with dizziness, nausea, and lightheadedness, chronic Candida, low back pain with pain radiating into the hips (previously characterized as developmental anomaly of the lumbar spine), an acquired hamstring disorder, an acquired bilateral hip disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and a bilateral elbow disorder. However, service connection is not established for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The veteran is granted secondary service connection for sleep apnea as it is claimed to be related to his service-connected nasal fracture. However, the veteran's increased rating claim for residuals of a nasal fracture remains denied.,The VA will continue to review the veteran's claims in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for diabetes mellitus and hepatitis C are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has found that the veteran's PTSD is of service origin and grants service connection for PTSD. The claim of service connection for Hepatitis C remains pending as there are no findings on its etiology.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, Heart Disease (Congestive Heart Failure), and a Right Knee Disorder. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining an autopsy report and dose estimate of radiation exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for the residuals of hepatitis B and a psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for bilateral optic atrophy and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hepatitis C infection, finding that he was not in active military service on April 9, 1980 when he had his motorcycle accident.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be decided. Specifically, VA treatment records from February 1999 until the veteran's death in January 2002 are requested.

The Board granted a 30 percent initial disability rating for service-connected major depressive disorder and found that the veteran's leg cramps, ingrown toenails, stomach disorder, ulcers, low back disorder, hepatitis A, delayed stress syndrome, headaches, and residuals of a head injury are not currently diagnosed or supported by evidence. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran's claim for service connection for cryptogenic cirrhosis of the liver is being remanded to allow for additional development and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and PTSD, finding no evidence of a relationship to active service.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination report and laboratory test results.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA medical records, including those from the University of Southern Alabama in 1972 or 1973. The claims for a higher rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus and for service connection for hepatitis C will be reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C.