Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of all submitted evidence.

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

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be related to his service, with the Board finding that reasonable doubt has been resolved in favor of a connection.,Regarding hypertension, the Board determined that it was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not caused by or aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO/AMC for further consideration of the Veteran's claims, including the submission of additional medical treatises and VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to insufficient medical nexus opinions addressing his assertions of hepatitis C related to in-service exposure to blood and bodily fluids.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to service and denied his claim for a skin disability due to burn pit exposure.

The Board has restored the Veteran's Section 1151 compensation for hepatitis C with rheumatological autoimmune disease, as well as his related grants of special monthly compensation and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The depression disorder was also restored due to its secondary nature to the hepatitis C disability.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is productive of intermittent fatigue, but no other symptoms warranting a higher rating. The disability does not meet the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7354.

The Board found that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not related to his service or service-connected PTSD. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied as there was no evidence showing total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's hepatitis claim requires a VA examination to determine if the current elevated liver function studies are related to his in-service assessment of hepatitis. His hearing loss claim also needs an updated VA examination due to recent worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis, bilateral leg disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder were not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rectal disorder and hepatitis C are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, including an evaluation of the causal relationship between any conditions he may have had during service and his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not manifest during active military service and is not related to service, including as a result of air gun injections. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C and its connection to his military service. The Veteran needs a VA examination, additional records from Social Security Administration, New Jersey Department of Social Services, and Cumberland County Health Department should be obtained, and an addendum opinion is needed if the January 2009 addendum opinion does not meet the requirements.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and for dependency and indemnity compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that neither condition was related to his military service.