Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2010

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection for hepatitis C, recurrent urethritis, and herpes progenitalis. The Board found that clear and unmistakable error has not been shown and denied the request.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are not related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service. His bilateral hearing loss has been granted an initial non-compensable rating, but the claim for a higher initial rating is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the left knee disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C and finds that it is as likely as not related to in-service exposure through air gun inoculations. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, hepatitis C, hypertension, and a skin disorder. As such, these matters are dismissed.

The Veteran's bipolar mood disorder is aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C, and the VA has granted service connection for this condition. The evaluation for hepatitis C remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the appellant's hepatitis C was not incurred during active service and denied his claim.

The case is being returned to the RO for further evidentiary development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the Newark, New Jersey RO.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and skin cancer, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The appellant submitted lay testimony and duplicative medical records, which were considered in previous decisions. There is no new evidence showing a causal relationship between any service-connected disability and the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all relevant factors, including his history of intravenous drug use and blood transfusions.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to negligent treatment received at VA facilities, and therefore denied DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by hepatitis C, which is service-connected as it occurred during his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated at 40 percent from December 16, 2005. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met prior to March 21, 2005.

The Board is reopening the claim for service connection for hepatitis C and remanding it to the RO for further development. The Veteran's claims for alcohol abuse and PTSD are being remanded as well.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including PTSD, chloracne, hypertension, hepatitis C infection, and a lung disability. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hepatitis A and C due to lack of verified in-service stressors and no causal link to service. The Veteran's reported combat experiences were not corroborated by service records.