Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The veteran withdrew his claims for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the veteran's claimed stressors and insufficient notice on new and material evidence for reopening claims of service connection. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, a bilateral eye disorder, anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis. The evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hepatitis C due to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, migraines, skin disorder, DJD of the feet, lumbar spine DJD, right hip disability, and bilateral shin splints, were all denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete verification of his reserve service and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of Hepatitis B.

The veteran's hepatitis C has been rated as noncompensable since September 2002 and increased to 10 percent in March 2004. The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C remains denied.,The veteran's left upper arm scar was initially granted a 10 percent evaluation in July 2004 with an effective date of June 12, 2005. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating from June 12, 1970, to December 4, 2001, for the left upper arm scar remains denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his hepatitis C.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, sickle cell trait (claimed as sickle cell anemia), hepatitis C, tuberculosis, right knee injury residuals, eye injury residuals, and right rib injury residuals were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have these conditions as a result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by honorable active military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 6, 1965 for the award of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death based on new evidence including previously misplaced service medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of an open head injury and hepatitis B with cirrhosis of the liver. The claim for left side body tremors is inextricably intertwined with the newly granted claims, so it will be deferred until further notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran should be provided with an examination to determine if his acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis C are related to his military service, specifically due to risk factors such as tattoos, unprotected sexual activity, or razor blade sharing.

The veteran's Hepatitis C has been rated as 10 percent disabling since May 16, 2005. The Board found no basis for a higher rating.

The Board denied the reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for infectious hepatitis with jaundice, finding no new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's service connection for hepatitis C, including a lack of medical records linking his condition to his military service.

The veteran seeks service connection for Hepatitis C, but the VA examiner found no correlation between her in-service hepatitis and current diagnosis. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a new examination.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for hepatitis C and is remanding the issue of entitlement to service connection on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis, and insomnia. The Board found that the veteran did not present competent evidence to support his claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.