Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are at least as likely as not due to his service, specifically exposure to contaminated blood during combat operations in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and finds that the Veteran's current back pain is related to his military service. The claim for left knee disability, skin disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and hepatitis B was not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for depression as secondary to hepatitis C remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus as secondary to hepatitis C are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The PTSD claim is also being remanded for a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and hepatitis C due to lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claimed exposure to Vietnam. The claim for hepatitis C is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and nonservice-connected VA pension benefits, finding that his current diagnosis of hepatitis C is secondary to polysubstance abuse (drug use) which is considered willful misconduct. The Veteran was also found not to be unemployable due to disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a rating in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mood disorder, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, bilateral pes planus, and an abscess scar, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 24, 2009.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for pancreatitis, arthritis of the bilateral knees and ankles, herniated disc of the lumbar spine, diabetes mellitus, Type II, or hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to appear for a VA examination and will schedule another one at the appropriate address. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Hepatitis will be reconsidered based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and hypertension due to potential issues with service connection, exposure history, and medical records. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for infectious hepatitis and hepatitis B with liver damage was denied as there is no current evidence of a disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis B was previously denied in November 1968 due to lack of evidence of injury or disease during service and a current disability. The Board is remanding the case to comply with the requirements of Kent v. Nicholson, including providing notice on what evidence would be needed to reopen and substantiate his claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not submit a timely Substantive Appeal with regard to the rating decision currently on appeal, and thus the claim for service connection for depression is denied due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain service records and medical records, as well as arrange for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for hepatitis disability and acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's hepatitis B, endometriosis, eye disability, and bilateral knee disability were not found to be service-connected or warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.