Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2013

The Board found that hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was received on July 16, 1999. The effective date of service connection is set at that time.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's claimed hepatitis C, and to determine if it was incurred in service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically linked to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service.

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 Board found that hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were not incurred or aggravated during service, as there is no evidence of such in the service records. The VHA expert concluded that it was less likely than not that these conditions were related to any event or disease in service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been manifested by fatigue, malaise, and some hepatomegaly but not to the extent that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his gastrointestinal hemorrhage, esophageal variance, and cirrhosis were not related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between the condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused or aggravated by service, nor did any service-connected disability cause, aid, lend assistance to, or hasten the production of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for Hepatitis C, but further development is needed to determine if there is a link between his current condition and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, carpal tunnel syndrome, and numbness of the left leg due to inadequate examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were not incurred during service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is more likely a result of his long history of drug use than any other identified risk factors and possible causes, including air gun inoculations. Therefore, service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of hepatitis remains pending as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is likely related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the claims as they are now moot.

The Board found that the Veteran's Hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a diagnosis during service and the most likely cause of his current condition is a blood transfusion prior to 1992.