Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2008

The RO is remanding the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining Social Security Administration records. The veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder secondary to hepatitis C will be reconsidered.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hepatitis C. The Board finds that no legal basis exists to assign any earlier effective date, and thus denies the claim.

The VA has granted service connection for hepatitis C and assigned a 10 percent rating effective April 26, 2000. The veteran's condition was characterized by mild gastrointestinal disturbance.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the veteran's psychiatric disorder, rectal disorder, and hepatitis C. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of stressors and exposure, as well as unclear medical evidence regarding hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim for service connection of hepatitis C should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper notice.

The Board denied the veteran's service connection claim for prostate carcinoma and did not reopen his previously denied hepatitis A claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for a video hearing due to requests from the veteran and his representative.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not contribute to his cause of death, which was due to myocardial infarction, hypertension, and end stage renal disease. The VA physician opinions supported this conclusion.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis-C infection and thrombocytopenia, finding that the veteran's current conditions are due to disease or injury incurred in service. The appeal is based on new evidence.

The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The veteran's hepatitis C has been rated as noncompensable. The VA examinations did not show incapacitating episodes or anorexia, which are required for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action, including seeking another medical opinion and considering the veteran's lay assertions regarding in-service exposure.

The veteran's service-connected hepatitis C has not resulted in any additional disability warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any condition incurred or aggravated in service, including malaria and jaundice. The underlying cause of his death was resection for colon cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the veteran's hepatitis C disability. The issues of service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss, and asbestosis are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hepatitis C which could be attributed to active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of medical records and need for clarification on the cause of death.

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