Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hepatitis A and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance, finding that there was no relationship between his cause of death (sepsis due to hepatic failure) and his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 21, 2000 for a 100 percent rating for hepatitis C with cirrhosis. The evidence showed that the disability had been manifested throughout the appeal period by near-constant debilitating symptoms.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective from February 9, 2007. The veteran's PTSD is characterized by total occupational and social impairment due to gross impairment in thought processes; grossly inappropriate behavior; and persistent danger of hurting self or others.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of hepatitis. The Board has determined that additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining medical records, is needed to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, PTSD, and essential tremors of both hands due to lack of credible evidence supporting the occurrence of claimed stressors related to combat.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a bilateral foot disorder claimed as broken arches, thus denying both claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA records and conducting medical examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a new hearing. The specific conditions at issue include hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, and a low back disorder.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis B and the initial rating and effective date for bilateral plantar fasciitis. The veteran must be provided with an SOC to appeal these decisions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C, which was linked to his tattoos during service, was a principal cause of his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 as secondary to the veteran's service-connected lower extremity disabilities and denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a diagnosis of PTSD, malaria, or hepatitis C. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran withdrew his appeal for sleep apnea, a blood disease due to Agent Orange exposure, pneumonia including due to Agent Orange exposure, lupus and positive lupus anticoagulant including due to Agent Orange exposure, and peripheral neuropathy including due to Agent Orange exposure. The skin disorder characterized as basal cell carcinomas of the face and actinic keratoses of the hands and face was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, cirrhosis of the liver (claimed as liver problems), melanoma of the right leg, and a right leg scar. The claim for hypertension was granted but secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hepatitis C had its origin in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for depression as secondary to hepatitis C is remanded for further action.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, COPD and bronchitis with upper respiratory infection, and recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax 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 the need for additional medical examination and development.