Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C has been reopened and is being reviewed on the merits.,The skin disorder claim related to Agent Orange exposure remains pending, as new evidence was submitted but does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The psychiatric disorder claim is being addressed in a separate remand.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be related to service, and she is granted a noncompensable disability rating for diastasis recti of the abdominal muscles. The increased rating claim for residuals of fracture coccyx with sacroiliac and symphysis pubis strain remains on appeal.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for service-connected hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's disability picture more nearly approximates fatigue, malaise, and anorexia (without weight loss or hepatomegaly), requiring dietary restriction or continuous medication, or incapacitating episodes (with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain) having a total duration of at least two weeks, but less than four weeks, during the past 12-month period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in, or caused by, his military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction (secondary to hepatitis C) is also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and denied his claims for service connection. The other issues were also addressed but are not included here.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further examination by a liver disease specialist.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional records and a review of his Social Security Administration disability benefits decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the cause of his HCV infection and sending another development letter to the Veteran.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is attributable to service, as it can be accounted for by known modes of transmission such as transfusions before 1992 and injection drug use. The claim is granted.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities, while serious and requiring the use of a wheelchair or prosthetic leg, do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing benefits due to permanent and total disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for liver disease, including hepatitis A, B, and C. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the nature of his condition and its relationship to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hepatitis C, back disability, and psychiatric disability. The RO will also print out records from a CD-R provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current left foot disorder, hepatitis C, and respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and depression. The claim for hepatitis C was reopened, but the new evidence does not establish a nexus to service. For his acquired psychiatric disorder, the VA examiner found no link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied.,The claim of new and material evidence to reopen a left knee disability has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis is inactive and asymptomatic, resulting in a denial of his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, which was previously denied in January 2004. The reopened claim is granted based on the submission of a VA treatment record indicating possible exposure to hepatitis C during service.