Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA and private treatment records from various locations. The RO will also provide the veteran with a supplemental statement of the case on the issues of service connection for hepatitis C, evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right pelvic ramus fracture, entitlement to service connection for shingles, and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen service connection claims for lower back disability, residuals of a coccyx injury, and a psychiatric disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further medical review regarding whether the veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, but denied it as there is no evidence that any condition incurred or aggravated during service caused or contributed to his death.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, HIV, and a nervous disorder as these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss and otitis media.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for hepatitis C and residual scars from a rib biopsy, finding that his symptoms did not warrant higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes. The veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as he is able to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B and C, chronic dermatitis, actinic keratosis, and monoclonal gammopathy. The veteran was presumed to have been exposed to herbicides in Vietnam, but there is no current diagnosis of any disease or condition that would qualify for a presumption of service connection based on exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar segment of the spine prior to August 8, 2005 was denied.,The veteran's claim for increased evaluations for residuals of a right acromioclavicular separation from September 1, 1993, to September 10, 2001 and after September 10, 2001 and prior to August 8, 2005 was denied.,The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension on appeal from initial grant of service connection was denied.,The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis (including a hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux with history of a gallstone) on appeal from initial grant of service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate records related to hepatitis testing in the 1990s.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis B and C are not service-connected as they were due to drug abuse, which is precluded by law.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need to verify his service in Vietnam, confirm stressor events, and obtain VA medical records. The case will be reviewed again after these steps.

The veteran's multiple service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities prevent him from achieving a vocational goal, thus feasibility of additional vocational rehabilitation training is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was granted with an effective date of January 26, 1998.,The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim filed before December 11, 2001.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and addressing both hepatitis C and secondary cirrhosis of the liver claims.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional evidence and determine if the veteran's hepatitis C is related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic myofascitis, cognitive disorder due to closed head injury, and radiculopathy secondary to lumbar spine pathology have been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative joint disease of the knees, hypertension, fibromyalgia and/or chronic pain syndrome, hepatitis C, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remain pending.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claims for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, renal disease, and eye disorder.

The veteran's hepatitis C with anxiety and depression was granted a rating of 30 percent effective from July 27, 2000. The issues for increased ratings were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for hepatitis B and service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no evidence of current heart disability related to service or service-connected disability.