Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2009

The Board granted service connection for renal insufficiency as secondary to the veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and infectious hepatitis, but denied increased evaluations for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and upper extremities, and denied reopening claims for PTSD, dyspneic disorder with anxiety, and hypertensive vascular disease.

The Board granted service connection for depression as secondary to the veteran's hepatitis C and restored service connection for hepatitis C, while dismissing other claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied because new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the presumption for Agent Orange exposure does not apply to hepatitis.

The veteran's hepatitis C was granted service connection based on the evidence that he likely contracted it during his combat service in Vietnam.

The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial 30 percent evaluation, which was later increased to 50 percent. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to such symptoms as suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, impaired impulse control, spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The claim for service connection for Hepatitis C was also denied as there is no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was remanded to obtain a medical examination and additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding no evidence of a causal relationship to the veteran's active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C Virus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there was no medical evidence confirming the presence of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for alcohol and drug abuse as it is not etiologically related to a service-connected disability, and denied service connection for hepatitis C as it is also not etiologically related to a service-connected disability.

The veteran's current residuals of hepatitis A and B are related to service.

The Board remands the claim for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and a VA examination.

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence, including VA treatment records and a verified in-service stressor for PTSD, as well as an examination to determine the etiology of hepatitis C.

The veteran's claim for assistance in acquiring an automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only was denied due to the absence of a qualifying service-connected disability.

The appeal is remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC, for the purpose of scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and a corrective VCAA notice.

The veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hepatitis C were denied as the evidence did not support a link between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The veteran's hepatitis C was not related to his active duty service, and the anxiety disorder did not warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability, hepatitis C, PTSD, and alcoholism to the RO for further development.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for hepatitis C to obtain additional evidence and a new VA examination.