Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B and C with liver complications, finding that it resulted from his own willful misconduct during military service.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for a myocardial infarction at St. Joseph Hospital were not covered by VA because the treatment was not for an adjudicated service-connected disability or a nonservice-connected disability associated with and held to be aggravating an adjudicated service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis and a bilateral ankle disability was granted. The decision also noted that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports these claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, a nervous disorder, and hepatitis. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition is not well grounded, and thus denied. However, the claim for service connection for hepatitis is found to be well grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations were not well grounded, and denied all issues related to service connection.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of hepatitis and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that the appellant's hepatitis B carrier status was due to IV drug use and his PTSD diagnosis was not supported by credible evidence of an inservice stressor.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected hepatitis, type B due to incomplete development of facts pertinent to his claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for facial acne and for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hiatal hernia, gallstones, and hepatitis B. The veteran's claim for facial acne was not well-grounded due to lack of evidence linking it to service or Agent Orange exposure. For hiatal hernia, gallstones, and hepatitis B, the Board found no more than a 10 percent evaluation warranted.

The Board denied service connection for upper gastrointestinal condition, neck disability, psychiatric disorder, and liver condition (hepatitis) due to lack of competent medical evidence of current disabilities.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death was not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking his death to service-connected conditions or service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), increased rating for hemorrhoids, and increased rating for hepatitis have been denied. The veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for hepatitis from October 11, 1997 onwards.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death was not well grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to Agent Orange exposure or active service.

The Board found that hepatitis C is related to the veteran's military service and granted his claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of the veteran's death, finding insufficient evidence to establish a well-grounded claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of acute hepatitis, including gastroesophageal reflux disease and history of hepatic cyst, warrant a 30 percent evaluation.

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

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lung injury, pneumonia, hepatitis, rectal fistula, colon disorder, and leg disability, based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the RO's decision to sever service connection for hepatitis due to clear and unmistakable error in the November 1996 rating decision is not sufficiently detailed, and thus remands the case for further action.