Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hypertensive Heart Disease (on a presumptive basis due to diabetes mellitus), and Hepatitis C. The claim for PTSD is granted as it relates to an in-service stressor. Service connection for Hypertensive Heart Disease is also granted on a presumptive basis due to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for Hepatitis C remains pending.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records related to the veteran's employment with a shipyard and his service connection claims. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no medical basis to link the condition to his period of service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, claimed as due to medication taken for service-connected residuals of fractured cervical spine with traumatic arthritis, spurs and calcium deposits, is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cirrhosis of the liver was not incurred or aggravated during military service and is not related to any service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing SSA records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death, which was caused by cirrhosis, is associated with his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Hepatitis C is attributable to his period of active duty military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis B likely originated during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records, including VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits documents.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented.

The veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and hepatitis C were denied as the conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and denied both the cause of death claim and the PCT service connection claim. The suicide appears to have been due to willful misconduct, which is a bar to service connection.

The veteran's death was caused by his alcohol abuse, which was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the cause of death is considered service-connected.

The veteran's multiple disabilities, including psychiatric disorders and physical conditions such as diabetes and arthritis, are found to be severe enough to render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's chronic hepatitis is rated at 10 percent, and he is denied service connection for his hepatitis C as it was not incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that the veteran was exposed to bodily fluids while serving as a medic and thus at risk for contracting hepatitis C. The left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is no direct evidence of a link between the veteran's parachute jumps during active duty and his current shoulder or knee disabilities.