Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2011

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims for hepatitis C and a low back disability. Specifically, the Veteran needs to be provided with an examination to assess his hepatitis C claim and ascertain whether he had a tattoo during service which may have contributed to his current condition. The VA also needs to request any SSA medical records related to the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disease, to include tuberculosis, and hepatitis was denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service events that would support the claims.

The Veteran's alcohol abuse is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and he has been granted secondary service connection for this condition. His hepatitis C is not found to be related to his service or service-connected conditions. The need for a liver transplant due to alcoholic cirrhosis resulting from his service-connected PTSD is also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C with associated liver cirrhosis, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service exposure. The decision was based on direct evidence of a link between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, hepatitis, and obstructive sleep apnea are not service-connected as secondary to his diabetes mellitus. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened, but the claim remains denied. The Veteran's lung disease is not considered to be caused by VA medical treatment status post liver transplant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of hepatitis B and C are etiologically related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his complete service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of secondary service connection will also be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish that it is related to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder has also been reopened, but the evidence does not establish that it is related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C and his active service, including inoculations during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not the surviving spouse of the Veteran, and therefore, DIC benefits are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of a service connection for hepatitis C. The cause of death was attributed to pneumonia complications due to COPD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his nasal laceration disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any abnormalities or obstruction of the nose, or characteristics of disfigurement associated with the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination. The appellant seeks service connection for hepatitis C, but the claims file does not contain sufficient information to determine if he was exposed to any known risk factors or if his condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to exposure to acoustic trauma during service, and his hepatitis C is not related to active service. Therefore, both conditions are granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's claims for hepatitis B service connection and a higher evaluation for his low back disability will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural issues and to obtain medical evidence.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, as the evidence does not establish that his Hepatitis C or other conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.