Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left cheekbone fracture is granted. The claims for hepatitis C and head injury are remanded for further development.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for allergic rhinitis and hepatitis C, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including dizziness, bilateral hearing loss, gout, mood swings, defective vision, cramps and sweats, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, hypertension, heart condition, shortness of breath, depression, memory loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle and joint pains, sleep apnea, headaches, liver disorder, and high cholesterol. The claims were denied as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is as likely as not caused by exposure to body fluids during service, specifically his volunteer door gunner duties in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B, but denied the claim on the merits as there is no current evidence of hepatitis B.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hypertensive Heart Disease (on a presumptive basis due to diabetes mellitus), and Hepatitis C. The claim for PTSD is granted as it relates to an in-service stressor. Service connection for Hypertensive Heart Disease is also granted on a presumptive basis due to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for Hepatitis C remains pending.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records related to the veteran's employment with a shipyard and his service connection claims. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no medical basis to link the condition to his period of service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, claimed as due to medication taken for service-connected residuals of fractured cervical spine with traumatic arthritis, spurs and calcium deposits, is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cirrhosis of the liver was not incurred or aggravated during military service and is not related to any service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing SSA records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death, which was caused by cirrhosis, is associated with his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Hepatitis C is attributable to his period of active duty military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis B likely originated during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records, including VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits documents.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented.

The veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and hepatitis C were denied as the conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.