Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected hepatitis C, finding that there were no objective medical findings to support such a rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C. The claim is being returned for further examination and clarification.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's Hepatitis C and to evaluate his claims for neck and back injuries. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred as a consequence of service, specifically from contact with the blood of others during combat in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the appellant's service with the Army Reserve and obtaining his service treatment records. The appellant is also to be scheduled for examinations to determine the etiology of his hepatitis C, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for hepatitis B, and it is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it resulted from his own drug use during active military service.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain medical records from private facilities where the veteran received treatment for depression and hepatitis C. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be decided.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of reopening her previously denied claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it was more likely due to post-service drug use.

The Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board in Washington, DC has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to provide the Veteran with a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was initially granted with a noncompensable rating, but the RO later awarded him a 10 percent disability rating effective from January 3, 2008. The initial period prior to this date had no symptoms and thus received a noncompensable rating.

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

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a causal link between the Veteran's currently manifested hepatitis C and service or any in-service risk factors, aside from intravenous drug use.

The Board has ordered a new examination to reconsider the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, given an inaccurate understanding of the evidence in the previous examination. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his in-service tattoos and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's stressor of experiencing a rocket and mortar attack in Vietnam has been corroborated, allowing for service connection for PTSD. The claim for hepatitis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and analysis. The issue of psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's disabilities, while numerous and severe, do not render an average person unable to follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is not permanently and totally disabled as a result of any disability.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.,The Board also denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C, concluding that there was insufficient evidence linking the condition to active duty service.