Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2011

The Veteran withdrew his appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disability for which service connection is warranted, despite having been treated for hepatitis in service. The evidence does not support a finding of active infectious hepatitis or any residuals thereof.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was denied in 2003 and is not being reopened.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, which manifested years after separation, cannot be granted as it is not related to active service or any incident thereof.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected hemorrhoids and to determine if hepatitis C is related to service. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected hemorrhoids and entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are not service-connected, attributing this to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of anthrax vaccine and hepatitis C is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability (hepatitis C) related to his in-service exposure, but not to the anthrax vaccines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Hepatitis C residuals was denied, as the evidence did not show daily fatigue, malaise or anorexia. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the absence of a showing that his service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain and review all relevant medical records from Camp Pendleton regarding the Veteran's arm laceration, including any potential blood transfusion. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board found insufficient evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current hepatitis C and his period of active military service, resulting in denial of the claim.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis A, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The hearing loss disability claim will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C was incurred in service and has been causally related to service, thus the claim for service connection is granted.

The VA determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The evidence does not support the presence of major or minor seizures, ulcers, tinnitus, headaches, left foot disorder, kidney disorder, colitis, or liver disorder that are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that service connection for hepatitis C is not warranted as there is no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service. The cirrhosis of the liver was also not shown within one year post-service, thus failing the presumptive period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. The issue of service connection for PTSD remains pending and will require further examination to determine if a link exists between his in-service stressors and his current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed headache disability and hepatitis C were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis disorder are not service-connected, with the primary finding being that his preexisting hearing loss did not worsen during service.