Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2008

The VA Board found that the veteran does not have hepatitis C related to his service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and the need for a VA examination to determine if Hepatitis C is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to concerns about the appellant's possible compensably disabling cirrhosis of the liver within one year of separation from active duty, and the possibility that he may have contracted a form of viral hepatitis at that time.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes and infectious hepatitis were denied, while the claim for service connection for a kidney condition secondary to diabetes was also denied.

The veteran's claims for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits, service connection for post-traumatic brain syndrome, hepatitis C, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression were all denied. The claim of service connection for post-traumatic brain syndrome was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is related to his active military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's medical conditions, including hypertension, hepatitis C, lumbar disc disease, gunshot wound residuals of the right leg, gallstones, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, do not render him permanently and totally disabled for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is service-connected due to a risk factor associated with his combat experiences, and thus grants the claim.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The VA determined that the veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected bronchiectasis, but rather by a combination of multiple underlying conditions including COPD and renal failure. The VA medical opinion concluded that there is no evidence to suggest that the service-connected bronchiectasis contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed hepatitis C is not related to his service, and thus denied the claim of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and clarification of medical opinions regarding the veteran's hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that it is more likely than not that the veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during active service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The veteran claims service connection for Hepatitis C, which he contends was incurred during his active military service. The VA has requested additional clarification and evidence to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's diagnosed hepatitis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. He will be given the option for a video conference hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C and granted it, finding that new and material evidence supports a link between the veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C and his military service.

The Board has determined that there are mixed issues in this case, with some aspects of the veteran's claims for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus type I being granted under new evidence, while others remain denied. The left knee disorder claim is still pending.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C, but further development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The veteran's overpayment of $2,299.20 is at issue due to reductions for a third period of incarceration. The validity of the debt must be determined before considering a waiver request.