Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between the Veteran's hepatitis C and his military service, leading to a denial of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue, and will reschedule the Veteran for a video-conference hearing at their local VA office in Texas.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. The issue of hepatitis C remains pending as there are conflicting medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from Fort Gordon and Maryland, determining if the Veteran had a tattoo during active duty, and providing an opinion on whether any acquired psychiatric disorder or hepatitis C is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C and PTSD diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis and neck disability were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The claim for lumbosacral strain had its rating reduced, but the Veteran is still entitled to a higher rating from July 27, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and an initial compensable disability rating for left great toe onychomycosis and ingrown toenail have not been met, as there is no evidence of a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board granted service connection for vertigo/Meniere's disease, hypertension, and hepatitis C. The claims were remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis, hypertension, and vision loss due to incomplete records. The Veteran's treatment records from VA facilities in Puerto Rico and Japan are needed, as well as any related union payment records.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence showing an in-service event or injury to which the current diagnosis of hepatitis C may be related, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the Cleveland, Ohio RO due to her inability to appear on the originally scheduled Board hearing.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that multiple myeloma is a radiogenic disease and presumed to be related to radiation exposure in service. However, the Board concluded that multiple myeloma was not a principal or contributory cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board finds that the current medical evidence is inadequate to determine whether the Veteran's disability rating for infectious hepatitis should be increased or if his major depressive disorder is secondary to service-connected infectious hepatitis. Therefore, a new VA examination and opinion are needed.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing at the Atlanta, Georgia Regional Office.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service due to blood transfusions received during a hospitalization for knife stab wounds, and the Board finds that all elements for service connection have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's jaundice/residuals of hepatitis C, status post liver transplant, are etiologically related to service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service, but the Board granted service connection for PTSD based on credible supporting evidence of a stressor during his military service.

The Board has determined that service connection for a hepatitis C infection is denied due to the late onset of symptoms and lack of evidence linking it to active service. The claim for PTSD remains pending as an additional examination is required.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues are related to service connection for various conditions, including congestive heart failure and chest pain, cirrhosis of the liver, and an undiagnosed illness involving gastrointestinal symptoms.