Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2000

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including hypertension, mild pulmonary obstruction, and bilateral pes planus, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes as his combined disability evaluation is only 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal as his substantive appeal was not filed within the required time frame.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from specific facilities and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the right knee disability. The claim for service connection for hepatitis and the issue regarding the right ankle disorder will be reconsidered in light of any new evidence submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis and an increased rating for his left ankle/foot condition, finding that they were not well grounded.

The Board denied service connection for alcohol dependence as secondary to post-traumatic stress disorder, and also denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The decision is not considered clear and unmistakable error.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current hepatitis B and C to his military service, resulting in a denial of this claim. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hand disorder is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected infectious hepatitis-B, mechanical low back strain, and cervical strain with degenerative joint disease. The VA found that the current evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's multiple disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes based on his service-connected conditions, as they are not of sufficient severity to render him permanently unemployable.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) were not incurred or aggravated in service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and her military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of cerebrovascular accident and chronic hepatitis are currently rated at the minimum level, with no evidence supporting an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disability manifested by hypertension or chronic hepatitis B, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The veteran's current rating for his service-connected chronic hepatitis B remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and hepatitis are service-connected based on direct evidence of their onset during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis was not shown in service and is not connected to her current disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for residuals of hepatitis is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, hepatitis, and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to herbicide exposure. The claim for reopening a previously denied hearing loss claim was also denied. The rating for otitis externa remains unchanged.

The veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and he did not have a permanent total service-connected disability at the time of his death. Therefore, his cause of death is not eligible for VA compensation or Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Palms of Pasadena Hospital from November 10 to November 12, 1996 are denied as the treatment was non-emergent and a VA facility was feasibly available.