Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2008

The Board found no evidence linking the causes of death (myocardial infarction, sepsis, and cirrhosis) to the veteran's military service or his already service-connected conditions. Therefore, the cause of death claim was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection for hepatitis C is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the veteran's exposure to wounded servicemen's blood in Vietnam is as likely as not a cause of his current condition. Service connection for a dental disorder was denied due to lack of eligibility under VA regulations.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C and arthritis of the hands, arms, shoulders, knees, and ankles as there is no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has ordered additional development to be completed, including obtaining medical records and seeking information from the Social Security Administration. The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hepatitis C is being remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to service, attributing it to his documented in-service intravenous drug use.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his service and denied his claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for VCAA notice and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and service personnel records.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all listed conditions, including those related to herbicide exposure. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters as the appellant's request to withdraw his appeal is now in effect.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hepatitis C, a Right Shoulder Disability, and a Right Hand Disability. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was previously denied in September 1999 and is not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The ratings for bilateral hearing loss and ligament damage, left knee, with minimal joint space narrowing; degenerative joint disease were reduced but the veteran's appeal for restoration of these ratings are granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for cirrhosis of the liver and granulomatous hepatitis, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were caused by VA medical treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service, including any exposure. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver and found that new evidence submitted since the prior denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, the Board denied service connection as there is no probative evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of combat exposure and insufficient evidence corroborating the claimed in-service stressors. Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service or for many years after, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Hepatitis C was not shown during service or for many years after, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The veteran's death was caused by liver failure, which is service-connected.,Accrued benefits were granted for the esophageal tear and right shoulder disorder as secondary to service-connected back disability.