Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture and hepatitis B, as well as his claim for TDIU. The decision concluded that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to show that any pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not combine to 100 percent, nor is he over the age of 65 or deemed disabled by SSA. The medical evidence does not show that the Veteran is permanently and totally disabled.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a current disability and the VA examiners concluded it was less likely than not caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing VCAA notice. The issues of reopening claims for hepatitis C, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and service connection for shortness of breath and fatigue are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently suffer from hepatitis C or chronic residuals thereof, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The disabilities causing the Veteran's death were not manifested during his military service or for many years thereafter, nor were any of them otherwise related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hepatitis disability, and his IBS and OCD were not incurred during service or related to any service-connected condition. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for service-connected hepatitis C, effective from January 12, 2011. The Veteran's symptoms include near-constant debilitating fatigue, malaise, right upper quadrant pain, and nausea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C or an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have hypertension or hepatitis, to include hepatitis B and C with cirrhosis of the liver, that was caused by active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his period of active service. The issue of hepatitis was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision.

The case is REMANDED to the RO for additional development, including obtaining records from the Texas Department of Justice and requesting an addendum from the June 2010 examiner. The Veteran's claims will be re-adjudicated following this development.

The Veteran does not have a current hepatitis disability, including residuals of the infectious hepatitis with which he was diagnosed during service. Therefore, his claim for service connection for hepatitis is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to delays in communication and the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, including jaundice as a manifestation thereof, is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis and dizziness or vertigo, finding that there was no current disability due to hepatitis in service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities is being remanded as additional medical inquiry is required.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected cirrhosis and hepatitis C. The appeal is also remanded due to the inextricability of the TDIU claim from other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hepatitis are pending.