Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records from the Veteran's healthcare providers and the Social Security Administration.

The VA determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any in-service incident. The medical evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was caused and/or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, granting secondary service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis C due to an endoscopic procedure performed at the Miami, Florida VA is denied as there is no evidence that the procedure caused his pre-existing hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hepatitis C is not related to his military service, including air gun vaccinations or tattoos he received in service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability claim information. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of a spelenectomy was denied as there is no legal entitlement to such due to the lack of correspondence prior to November 23, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis infection was not incurred in active duty, as there is no evidence of exposure to hepatitis A or C during service and his current hepatitis B infection did not occur during active military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the Veteran and the appellant's request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, and a liver condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for a new evaluation of hepatitis C. The service connection claim for low back pain remains on appeal, as does the increased rating claim for hepatitis C.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a rib injury, and hepatitis C. The decision found that current evidence did not meet the criteria for disability due to hearing loss in the right ear, left ear hearing loss was not chronic in service or within one year post-service separation, and there was no nexus between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining service personnel records and private medical records. The issues of service connection for PTSD, cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to PTSD, and alcoholism as secondary to PTSD are held in abeyance.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hepatitis C is etiologically related to his receipt of air gun immunization injections during basic training. As a result, service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus was granted at 20 percent, effective May 11, 2009. Service connection for hepatitis C was also granted.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis B, which he claims was caused by a blood transfusion during surgery in December 1985 at the West Haven VAMC. The VA has not obtained relevant medical records from this period and needs to do so as part of the remand process.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C. The VA has determined that the current opinion on etiology provided in October 2009 is inadequate and has ordered an additional medical examination to clarify the nature and etiology of his hepatitis C.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disability and hepatitis B infection, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions. The claim for an initial compensable rating for hearing loss is pending.

The Board denied service connection for liver disease, to include hepatitis B, and psychiatric disorder, to include depression and schizophrenia. The Veteran's claims were not supported by clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions pre-existed service or were aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The claim for hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for further development.