Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional development, including establishing the timeline of intravenous drug use and providing a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C was denied due to the belief that it resulted from his own willful misconduct. The Board is now considering whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis, rash on the hands and forehead, leg cramps, defective vision, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran did not have a pending claim for accrued benefits at the time of his death, and therefore, the appellant's claim is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of hepatitis C, hypertension, or a left hernia scar. The claim for service connection was denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to show these conditions preexisted his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's knee disability is not caused or made worse by his service-connected left ankle disorder, and thus denied secondary service connection for a bilateral knee disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further action regarding whether the Veteran submitted a timely substantive appeal from the June 27, 2003 rating decision denying service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and hepatitis C, with associated liver damage claims were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The psychiatric disorder claim is pending due to the need for additional mental health records.

The Board found that hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and denied the claim. For the low back disability, there is conflicting evidence regarding its current severity and etiology, necessitating further examination.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, Guillain-Barr Syndrome, residuals of upper respiratory infection (COPD), hypertension, and inguinal and cervical lymphadenopathy. The claims were not reopened.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was manifested by daily fatigue and occasional vomiting, anorexia, and malaise without evidence of hepatomegaly. The RO granted a 20 percent evaluation from July 15, 2005 through June 30, 2006.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and an opinion regarding his hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C with associated liver cirrhosis, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease during or within one year after service and noting that the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Board concluded that his current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for jaundice and residuals of hepatitis C, status post liver transplant is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully evaluate the appellant's claim for service connection for hepatitis C.