Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death must be remanded due to incomplete notification and missing medical records. The VA will need to provide proper VCAA notice, obtain terminal hospital reports, and seek a medical opinion regarding whether any fatal cardiovascular or pulmonary disorder had its onset during the Veteran's period of military service.

The VA determined that there is no competent and credible evidence attributing the Veteran's hepatitis C to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of hepatitis C, finding that there was no in-service exposure to the virus and no medical evidence linking his current diagnosis to service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current hepatitis C and liver disorder, other than hepatitis C, and his military service. The Board denied service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's hepatitis C with cirrhosis was evaluated at a 30 percent rating prior to July 2, 2001 and at a 40 percent rating since then. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Veteran seeks nonservice-connected pension benefits due to permanent and total disabilities. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records, Social Security Administration disability compensation records, and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that Hepatitis C with cirrhosis is not causally related to the Veteran's active duty service and therefore denied the claim of service connection.

The Board granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's exposure to blood products during his period of active service was as likely as not the cause of his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for hepatitis C has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as schizophrenia. The evidence shows that the Veteran had a diagnosis of early paranoid schizophrenia during service and continues to have chronic schizophrenia today. Service connection is granted for this condition. For hepatitis C, there is no medical evidence linking it to active service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic hepatitis C is service-connected, but there is no evidence of a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of infectious hepatitis was denied, while her claim for service connection for residuals of warts removed from hands located at the right and left index fingers was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records from Dr. R. Di'L, who treated the Veteran prior to 1989 and diagnosed hepatitis C in 1989.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C as there is no medical evidence or opinion suggesting a link between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not diagnosed until many years after service, and there is no medical evidence linking the condition to his military service. The Board therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to hepatitis C, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hepatitis C to his military service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional clarification regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for Hepatitis C, including consideration of in-service risk factors such as IV drug use and a pneumatic vaccination.

The Veteran's claims for a headache disorder, recurrent herpetic genitalia infections, and hepatitis C were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for a headache disorder. For recurrent herpetic genitalia infections, the medical evidence showed no objective manifestations despite subjective symptoms. For hepatitis C, there was no evidence showing treatment with systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.