Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for earlier effective dates and entitlement to disability benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, as well as his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for hepatitis due to lack of new and material evidence, despite the veteran's history of hepatitis during service. The examiner found no current disability related to his in-service illness.

The Board has found that the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, a respiratory disorder, and chloracne have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The RO conducted an examination but did not find any current disabilities related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied an increased rating for hepatitis, finding that the veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms are not due to his service-connected hepatitis and therefore the condition is asymptomatic.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, cirrhosis of the liver, and diabetes mellitus. The claim to reopen the frostbite of the feet was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a liver disorder and hepatitis C, finding that his claims were not well-grounded.

The Board has granted service connection for left femur and left foot disabilities, finding that the veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by active duty.,Service connection was denied for hepatitis C due to its being linked to willful misconduct (intravenous drug use).

The VA denied an increased rating for hepatitis, currently evaluated as noncompensable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 24, 1998 for a 30 percent evaluation for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to properly evaluate the appellant's claims, including those related to his service-connected disabilities and any new disability. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and schedule the appellant for appropriate VA compensation or fee-basis examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, which is now considered. The case will be further adjudicated on its merits.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to determine if service connection can be granted for the cause of the veteran's death due to alcoholism, either directly or as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the veteran's service connection claim for viral hepatitis, including obtaining relevant medical records and clarifying his role as a combat medic.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for the veteran's cirrhosis of the liver secondary to hepatitis, finding that his symptoms more nearly approximate this level of impairment.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for hepatitis C prior to April 20, 1998 and a 100 percent evaluation beginning on that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for clarification of the veteran's medical history.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's drug addiction was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and therefore, the claim for service connection for drug addiction is denied.