Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be adjudicated, including obtaining treatment records and arranging for VA medical examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of the veteran's claimed hepatitis C and pancreatitis.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration under the revised rating criteria.

The veteran seeks service connection for hepatitis and related heart, kidney, and liver damage. The RO has remanded the case for additional development to determine if these conditions are linked to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's hepatitis B and C, including his service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, service connection for hepatitis and PTSD. The veteran was not granted any of his requested benefits.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hepatitis, but it is not clear whether new and material evidence was provided. The case will be remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current hepatitis C is causally related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and rating assignments, finding that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen previously denied claims or establish service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's Hepatitis C and depression were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board finds that the veteran likely incurred hepatitis C while on active duty in Vietnam and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not a result of VA hospital care, but rather a reasonably foreseeable consequence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the appellant can establish service connection for hypertension and hepatitis C, including considering his alleged exposure during service.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a blood disorder as secondary to his service-connected PCT, but denied service connection for liver damage including Hepatitis C. The claim for an increased evaluation of PCT was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran seeks service connection for Hepatitis C, which he claims was caused by his military service in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and service personnel records.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for oriental cholangiohepatitis, which was granted on June 25, 2001. The Board found that his claim dated back to 1971 and should be considered a continuation of his original claim.

The veteran is seeking compensation under the 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for Hepatitis C, which he claims was caused by a blood transfusion during his February 1990 surgery at a VA hospital. The Board has decided to remand this case for further examination and clarification of whether the veteran received a blood transfusion.