Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Veteran's death was caused by multiorgan failure syndrome, sepsis syndrome, and community acquired pneumonia. The cause of these conditions is not service-connected due to the lack of evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted effective from September 22, 2005. The decision also reopened his previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that hepatitis C was incurred as a result of active service, specifically due to exposure during combat operations in Vietnam. The Veteran's PTSD claim remains pending and the initial disability rating for PTSD is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, hepatitis C, onychomycosis, a bilateral shoulder disability, and varicose veins. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a bilateral orchiectomy was reopened and granted.,Service connection for hepatitis C was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C and adjudicating the accrued benefits claim. The appeal is also remanded to consider whether service connection for the cause of death should be granted.

The appellant withdrew his appeal regarding the rating assigned for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that it is related to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include psychosis and schizoaffective disorder, is also denied.

The Veteran's current hepatitis C condition was not incurred or related to service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic sinus disorder or residuals of viral hepatitis related to his service. The claim for back disorder and hypertension is pending.

The Veteran's hepatitis C infection is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and requesting a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his chronic alcoholism, which in turn caused or aggravated his metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis. The Board concluded that giving the benefit of doubt to the appellant, the service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated the Veteran's alcoholism.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service records and provide a VA examination for his Meniere's disease of the right ear. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C, left leg disorder, left toe disorder, hypothyroidism, and TDIU are also pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C disability. The issues of service connection for hepatitis C and amputation due to osteomyelitis are also being addressed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current residuals of hepatitis B are due to an episode of infection he experienced during his period of active service, and grants service connection for these residuals.

The Board determined that the Veteran's cause of death, hepatocellular carcinoma due to hepatitis C, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and was not related to a service-connected disability. The Board found no evidence of a blood transfusion during service and concluded that hepatitis C infection is typically transmitted parenterally.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C has been granted, but the RO assigned a noncompensable (0%) rating. The Veteran is seeking a higher initial disability rating.

The Veteran does not have hepatitis C that is attributable to his active military service.