Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility were denied reimbursement due to his Medicare coverage, which partially reimbursed the costs.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hepatitis C were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during his period of honorable service, or within one year after discharge. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against a finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to TDIU due to additional development being necessary, including scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C during service or any link to service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service, specifically a vaccination with an unsterilized jet injector during boot camp. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran does not have hepatitis C or cirrhosis of the liver that is related to his service. The Board finds no evidence supporting these claims and concludes that they are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Board found that the appellant's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's National Guard service records to determine if his liver condition was incurred during a period of active duty or inactive duty training.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected malaria did not play a role in his death, and concluded that ischemic cardiomyopathy, acute renal failure, and hepatitis were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, varicose veins, hepatitis B, and left knee strain. The claim for increased rating for eczema was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis B was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's risk factors during and after service are at least as likely as not related to his current condition.

The Board has determined that hepatitis C was incurred during service, and thus grants the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated as 100 percent disabling for the period from December 20, 2001, to November 18, 2002. For the period from November 19, 2002, to June 5, 2003, he received a 60 percent rating. From June 6, 2003, to December 31, 2003, and since January 1, 2004, the Veteran was rated as 0 percent disabling.

The Board found no evidence of a right shoulder disability in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been rated at 40 percent since February 24, 2003. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.