Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's liver cirrhosis is not related to service, including his exposure to carbon tetrachloride during military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further examination is needed for both hemorrhoids and hepatitis claims.

The Board found that the veteran's right shoulder disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim. The hepatitis C claim was also denied as there is no evidence of its occurrence during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if any current gastrointestinal or blood disorder is related to service exposure.

The Board finds that the veteran's Hepatitis C is related to his high-risk sexual activity during military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for defective vision, a liver disease (to include hepatitis C), and diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for hepatitis and declined to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of hyper-pigmented lesions on the legs, and the lumbar spine disability was rated as severe but not pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome without incapacitating episodes. The thoracic spine fracture residuals were rated at 10 percent, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease did not meet criteria for higher evaluations.

The veteran is granted an extension of a temporary total evaluation beyond December 31, 2002 for convalescence following surgery on his service-connected right knee disability. The claim to reopen the hepatitis C service connection is also granted.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic form of the condition and noting that any single acute episode occurred outside of active military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right shoulder and hepatitis C. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for lumbosacral strain, residuals of a laceration of the right little finger, residuals of injury to the left foot, and hearing loss in the left ear. The veteran's hepatitis C was severed from his service-connected status.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depression/nervous disorder, hepatitis, ischemic heart disease with hypertension (claimed as a heart condition), and grand mal seizures. The claim to reopen a claim for post-traumatic disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine if there is a causal link between the veteran's fuel handling in service and his currently diagnosed cryptogenic cirrhosis.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C during the veteran's service and concluded that it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The claim for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to active duty or VA medical care.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chondromalacia of the left knee, hepatitis, residuals of a head injury (to include headaches), neck disorder, and back disorder. The evidence did not establish a nexus between any current disability and active military service.

The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and hepatitis C were found to be service-connected, but the initial evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The hepatitis C claim was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis and skin problems of the face and elbows could not be presumed to have resulted from exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The claims were denied.