Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2009

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. The Veteran died from septic shock, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, terminal hepatoma, and cirrhosis of the liver, all not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a scar due to a stab wound to the left chest. The claim of service connection for hepatitis C is still pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis is being remanded due to the receipt of additional pertinent service treatment records that existed and had not been associated with the claims file when VA first decided the claim. The claim will be reconsidered on a de novo basis.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for HCV was denied, and the effective date of service connection for HCV was granted as November 5, 2001. The Board found that his condition has not met the requirements for a compensable rating at any time since the filing of his claim in November 2001.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, and PTSD. The claim for reopening the porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) was remanded to the RO.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, tendonitis, hypertension, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims of PTSD based on in-service personal assault were not substantiated.

The Veteran's hepatitis C infection was identified shortly after discharge from service, and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not incurred during military service.

The Veteran's current hepatitis C was not incurred in active service and the Board finds that he did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for reaction to serums/inoculations, lung condition due to asbestos exposure and/or Agent Orange exposure and/or 'stack gas' exposure, and hepatitis C were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty. The Veteran's current diagnoses were attributed to intercurrent diseases (hepatitis C) diagnosed after separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and updated Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 notice.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was granted service connection and rated at a 10 percent disability rating prior to July 2, 2001.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis C, finding that there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor or a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to comply with the instructions of a joint motion, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for hepatitis residuals and a left ankle disability, as there is no significant new or relevant evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, scar on the head, and hepatitis, non-A, non-B. The evidence did not show current disabilities or in-service incurrence of these conditions.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently has infectious hepatitis, hepatitis B, or liver damage and whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis and colon cancer, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the hepatitis claim and that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or herbicide exposure.