Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2000

The VA determined that the appellant is not unemployable due to his disabilities, as he has a combined evaluation of 30 percent for nonservice-connected conditions and does not meet the disability percentage requirements for pension purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that his claim was not well-grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran had submitted new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim for service connection for hepatitis, which was first diagnosed long after service. The medical opinions linking the veteran's hepatitis C to transfusions in service were accepted as proof of such transfusions under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(b). As a result, the Board granted service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a liver condition and chloracne due to Agent Orange exposure. The decision also noted that new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim of service connection for a liver condition.

The Board found that the veteran had submitted new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim for service connection for hepatitis, which was first diagnosed long after service. The medical opinions linking the veteran's hepatitis C to transfusions in service were accepted as proof of such transfusions under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(b). As a result, the Board granted service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of competent evidence supporting his claims. The claims were not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of hepatitis-B and a separate compensable evaluation of 10 percent for multiple service-connected disabilities evaluated as noncompensable.

The veteran's death was caused by alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, which developed as a result of his in-service diagnosis and treatment for peptic ulcer disease. Service connection is granted for this cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, a disability manifested by a low blood count, and hepatitis due to lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, including both Agent Orange exposure and Hepatitis C as a possible cause, is well-grounded. The appellant's chronic peripheral neuropathy is found to be secondary to complications from Hepatitis C, which almost certainly was contracted during his tour of duty in Vietnam.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, and thus denied them. The VA also did not assign a disability rating or effective date as no evaluation was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for cancer of the esophagus and cirrhosis of the liver, both claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, are well-grounded. The evidence shows current diagnoses of these conditions and a history of herbicide agent exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current infectious hepatitis disability to his VA hospitalization and treatment in December 1971. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board found the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death not well-grounded, as there was no medical evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis with jaundice as there was no current diagnosis of hepatitis and no evidence linking any in-service jaundice to a current disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 8, 1994 for the award of service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death was not well-grounded, as there is no evidence demonstrating a direct or contributory relationship between any service-connected condition and the veteran's death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of influenza, finding that there is no competent evidence linking any current medical condition to active service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's death was caused by variceal bleed due to cirrhosis, which is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.