Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran did not receive a blood transfusion while hospitalized at a VA facility, and therefore, his hepatitis is unrelated to VA treatment.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C is more likely attributable to post-service activities than to his period of military service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran was not infected with hepatitis C during his military service and denied his claim for direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. Service connection was denied for stomach ulcer and chronic gastritis (previously GERD) as these conditions are not related to service or service-connected diabetes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic residuals of hepatitis A and coronary artery occlusive disease, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing notice of the type of evidence necessary to establish a disability rating or effective date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current Hepatitis C was incurred during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The RO denied the claim to reopen service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of evidence establishing a service-connected condition.

The veteran's claims for headaches, hepatitis C, and hypertension were denied. The claim for tinea versicolor was granted with a compensable rating of 30%. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and peripheral vascular disease, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's death was caused by VA surgical treatment in September 1996, and concludes that the criteria for entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are met. The claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no competent evidence showing the veteran had PTSD.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, make him unemployable and the Board finds in favor of his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's hepatitis C and readjudication based on the additional evidence.

The Board finds that the veteran is likely as not to have residuals of hepatitis due to service, and grants this claim. Service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C and bilateral plantar fibromatosis were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service. The claims are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B and C, as well as his claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes. The decision found that he did not have current diagnoses of hepatitis A or B, and that his currently diagnosed chronic hepatitis C was not related to his service.

The Board found no current medical diagnosis of a residuals of a low back injury and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for hepatitis C with fibrosis of the liver is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis and lipomas of the abdomen and thigh do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's request to appear at a personal hearing has been noted. The case is being remanded for scheduling such a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.