Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for further medical examination to determine if the veteran has Hepatitis C and any associated disability.

The Board has decided that further development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated on its merits.

The veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and correct notification for the scheduled examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied as the evidence did not establish that he had current disability from hepatitis C, and there was insufficient evidence to determine when or how it had its onset.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Akron City Hospital and Akron Blood Bank, VA Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia, and U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) to verify stressor events.

The Board has reopened the claims for hepatitis C, fatigue, headache disorder, skin rash, and mental disability (anxiety, stress, depression and a mood disorder). The case is being remanded to conduct further medical examinations and determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing the veteran with an opportunity to provide detailed information regarding his service stressors.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred hepatitis C while on active duty and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C, which was attributed to his reported in-service intravenous drug use, did not result from service and therefore denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the veteran's hepatitis C is related to his combat service, and for an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the veteran's cirrhosis of the liver is due to his service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD and hepatitis B/C claims cannot be granted as there is no verified in-service stressor for PTSD, and his hepatitis B/C are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is service-connected, as it was incurred during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's hepatitis C, and a new examination is required.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected bilateral pes planus and a compensable evaluation (10 percent) for the service-connected residuals of hepatitis B.

The Board found it unlikely that the veteran contracted schistosomiasis during military service or that any current nutritional hepatitis and cirrhosis are residuals of schistosomiasis. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has decided that the case requires additional development and a medical opinion to determine if the veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service, including any potential exposure during combat.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic viral infection and hepatitis C, as well as his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions, and thus denied them.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ankle disability or hepatitis, and finds that these conditions are not related to his military service.