Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA and SSA records, which may contain pertinent information relevant to the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is as likely as not a result of his in-service vaccinations and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is service connected, finding it at least as likely as not that he contracted the virus during his military service due to personal high risk behaviors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's AIH, status post liver transplant with complications and secondary conditions is related to his service, specifically his presumed exposure to Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The Veteran's testimony and VA treatment records suggest a current diagnosis of hepatitis C that had onset in service, but further examination is needed to determine if this is the same disease as the one diagnosed in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA medical records. The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C service connection and psychiatric disability reopening will be reviewed after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is still pending for a rating increase for PTSD and service connection for hepatitis C. The case has been remanded to schedule the Veteran for a video conference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing. The appeal will be returned to the RO after the scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for viral hepatitis is being remanded due to the need for additional hospitalization records. The claims for increased evaluation of depression and temporary total rating are also being remanded as there appear to be outstanding treatment records.

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

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence of current or service-connected hepatitis C. The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was also denied, as the evidence did not support a finding that his condition had worsened since his last examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hepatitis B and C have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and completing a risk factors questionnaire. The Veteran's hepatitis C may have been caused by his intranasal cocaine use prior to service, tattoos noted on entrance examination in November 1979, or vaccinations by air gun injection during active service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to hepatitis C infection is denied as there is no evidence of VA treatment in the 1980s or 2003 that caused his current condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis C and COPD were not present during service or due to any incident during service. The examiner opined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was less likely than not incurred in or caused by his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's hepatitis C with fatigue is rated at 20 percent, and he has a compensable rating for frostbite of the hands, ears, face, and feet prior to September 1, 2010. The Veteran does not meet criteria for higher ratings for his other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing medical records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and alcoholism with cirrhosis, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence was not in equipoise and did not meet the criteria for service connection.