Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The VA determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated during his active service. The evidence does not support a finding that he contracted hepatitis C as a result of an in-service event, and there is no medical opinion linking it to his military service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no established service-connected condition caused or contributed to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and specifically ruled out any connection between his PTSD and alcoholism. The cause of death is attributed to metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma due to significant alcohol abuse.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is no relationship between the current diagnosis and service. The negative evidence outweighs the positive, with no medical continuity of symptoms from service.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C. The case is being remanded to the RO/AMC for further review, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C and granted it. The Board also found that there is no evidence to support a secondary service connection for cirrhosis of the liver due to diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's cirrhosis of the liver developed due to his chronic alcohol use and denied service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's degenerative disease of the lumbar spine and hepatitis C, including reviewing his service records for drug use and any sexual contact in Thailand. The case will be returned to the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and information from the veteran's military service.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C during service or after, and concluded that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his active duty service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed hepatitis C is not related to his period of active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering a potential Federal Tort Claims Act claim.

The VA has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension was denied as he did not meet the criteria of being permanently and totally disabled from a non-service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for additional examinations. Service connection will be considered based on the merits of the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and Hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of herniated nucleus pulposus materially contributed to his death. Therefore, the appellant is eligible for educational benefits under Chapter 35 of Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis and a chronic skin disorder of the feet, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to service.