Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran did not contract hepatitis C virus in service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and hypertension, finding that exposure to human body fluids during service in Vietnam is a likely risk factor for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during service or is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of VA outpatient records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and a heart disorder, finding new and material evidence. The current medical evidence shows that the veteran has these conditions.,Service connection is granted for the veteran's current heart disorder as it was incurred in service.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected hepatitis C is being remanded due to incomplete compliance with the April 2006 remand directions, including obtaining treatment records and affording the veteran another VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental medical opinion to determine if the veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, including exposure to bodily fluids during combat and receipt of various inoculations. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the veteran's hepatitis C was caused by his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis B and C are attributable to service, resolving all doubts in his favor.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for hepatitis C with cirrhosis, which was previously assigned on January 21, 2000. The case has been remanded to the RO to consider whether an earlier effective date under the prior version of Diagnostic Code 7312 is warranted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his hearing loss, respiratory disorders, and hepatitis C.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, concluding that the veteran's disease in service was hepatitis A and not hepatitis B or C. The current hepatitis B and C are not related to events in service.

The veteran is currently assigned a 10 percent disability rating for hepatitis C. His appeal is to increase this rating, but the case has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, including a VA spine examination and a VA hepatitis C examination. The issues of increased rating for low back disability and initial rating for hepatitis C are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining the veteran's service separation examination and inviting him to submit evidence of tattoos received during service. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

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