Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C infection is due to his own IV drug use during service, and as such, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the cause of death and any potential service connection based on exposure to ionizing radiation. The appellant is also asked to clarify her intention to pursue a claim based on ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examination and development of the record to determine if a higher evaluation can be assigned for her service-connected polyarthralgia due to hepatitis C, and whether fibromyalgia should be considered as related to service or a service-connected disorder.

The Board found that hepatitis C with peripheral neuropathy was not due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current liver disease, including hepatitis C, was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and is more likely related to alcohol use.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to her military service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The case is being remanded due to the Veteran not appearing for a hearing before a RO Hearing Officer on July 6, 2009. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C/liver disorder will be readjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of hepatitis, also claimed as liver condition. The appeal is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination. The issues of service connection for hepatitis B and C, as well as dental trauma, will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred or aggravated during active military service, and it was not caused by posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, specifically the use of jet air gun injections during immunizations. As such, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and is unrelated to any incident therein. The cause of death, hepatorenal syndrome, was attributed to end-stage liver disease and hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, including his assertions regarding possible exposure during service. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder can be decided. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, providing VCAA notice, and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic hepatitis C is etiologically related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of hepatitis and insufficient evidence to establish a link between the claimed condition and service. For his sinus disorder, the Board noted that there is an ongoing issue with the adequacy of the VA examination provided in 2003.