Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

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.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cold weather injuries, PTSD, bilateral knee disability, and heart disability have been denied.,Service connection was not granted for epididymitis as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C and there is no competent evidence linking his current condition to service. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been service-connected, but he is seeking an initial compensable rating and TDIU. The Board finds that a new examination is necessary to reach a decision on the initial rating claim, and referral for extraschedular consideration of TDIU is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disability and GERD, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected history of viral hepatitis.,VA also denied an increased rating for his service-connected viral hepatitis.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her husband's service connection for hepatitis C, end-stage liver disease, cirrhosis, and cirrhosis with encephalopathy due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Virginia Department of Corrections regarding hepatitis C. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

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

The Veteran died from hepatic failure and bilateral pneumonia, with liver cirrhosis as a contributing factor. The VA medical opinions determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor did it have its onset within one year of discharge. The cause of his hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis is believed to be drug abuse and exposure to contaminated needles post-service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches were denied. The preponderance of the competent and credible evidence is against a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for hepatitis B under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that his hepatitis B was caused by carelessness or negligence on VA's part in March 2005. The psychiatric disorder secondary to hepatitis B is still pending and will be addressed during a future remand.