Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of dental trauma or injury in service resulting in loss of teeth, and the Veteran's current residuals are not related to service. For hepatitis C, the Board found no evidence present in service and does not relate any current condition to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, hepatitis C, and prostate disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service due to his own willful misconduct, and there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability or asbestosis related to military service. The claim for hepatitis C was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C virus has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to risk factors during military service, specifically a tattoo received in Vietnam and intravenous drug use.

The Veteran's asthma is service connected, but his digestive problems are not. The Board found that the current digestive issues are unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected dental condition, an acquired mental disorder including depression, or hepatitis C. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from a German hospital and providing an opinion on the Veteran's hepatitis C claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and additional information needed.

The Veteran's hepatitis A is manifested by slightly elevated total bilirubin level and no symptoms. The Board has determined that the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently productive of an undetectable viral load with subjective complaints, but no clinical findings of weight loss or hepatomegaly. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that a timely substantive appeal was perfected from the June 2003 rating decision denying service connection for chronic hepatitis C. The Veteran's claim is now on appeal and will be remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of his chronic hepatitis C.

The Board found that the appellant's hearing loss disability of the left ear was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and hepatitis B and C were not shown during active military service.

The Veteran died of complications due to cirrhosis of the liver, which is not service-connected. The Board finds that his prostate and bladder cancer did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran claims service connection for hepatitis C, which he asserts was incurred during his military service. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of his current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and depression. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or association with military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA care, and denied claims for service connection for the cause of death, DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and DEA benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.