Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for scleroderma, including as secondary to hepatitis C, was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a higher disability evaluation for his psychiatric condition and enucleation of the left eye with diabetic retinopathy of the right eye.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and psoriasis, finding no current disability related to the conditions. The Veteran's claims were based on his belief that he had these conditions during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused or hastened by a disability incurred in or aggravated by service. The cause of death, cirrhosis, is considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C is not causally or etiologically related to service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits is denied as he did not serve during a period of war and thus does not meet the basic eligibility requirements.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors and obtain medical opinions regarding his psychiatric, skin, and hepatitis C conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis, but further development is needed to determine if a current diagnosis exists and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70%, which does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected infectious hepatitis and did not address his claim to reopen his lumbar lordosis claim due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims for service connection for PTSD, low back disorder, hepatitis, stomach disorder, leg cramps, and headaches. However, new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and denied his claim, concluding it was due to voluntary drug use during service.

The Veteran does not have hepatitis C that is related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition and denied both the cause of death claim and the DIC claim.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for residuals of hepatitis C was denied as there is no reliable evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, but has not determined whether any specific condition was caused by service or a service-connected disability. The decision is mixed as some evidence supports reopening the claim while other evidence does not.

The Veteran is seeking a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes. The Board finds there are insufficient records to determine the current severity of his disabilities, including depression, hepatitis C, residuals of frost bite to the feet, and left shoulder disorder, which may impact his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if they preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C. The issues of back and left hip disabilities, as well as TDIU, are pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any hepatitis C present. The case will be returned to the RO for further review.