Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2000

The VA determined that the veteran's hepatitis B, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant a higher rating based on his symptoms and medical findings.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the evidence did not support a conclusion that any service-connected condition caused or contributed to his death.

The VA determined that the appellant's nonservice-connected disabilities do not combine to render him unemployable, and thus denied his claim for a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's Hepatitis C is not related to service or any events of service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's endocarditis and serum hepatitis are determined to be the result of his service-connected heroin addiction, which is considered willful misconduct. Therefore, increased ratings for these conditions are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and hepatitis, claiming as yellow jaundice. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to lack of evidence linking the veteran's fatal hepatitis C with his service-connected schizophrenia or military service.

The veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to service-connected conditions affecting multiple joints, including the right hip and left hip. The special home adaptation grant claim is denied as it would be precluded by the benefits already awarded under section 2101(a).

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including comprehensive VA examinations and obtaining a copy of a Goodwill Industries report. The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension benefits will be reconsidered.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current liver disorder, including hepatitis C, to his service or in-service diagnosis of serum hepatitis. The claim is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver with esophageal varices due to alcohol dependence, as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that this condition is related to his PTSD.

The veteran's liver cancer with Hepatitis B was determined to have been incurred in service, and the claim is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis, and has found that his current right shoulder disorder is not related to his military service. The veteran's hepatitis remains noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected residuals of infectious hepatitis was denied due to failure to appear for a scheduled VA examination in March 2000.

The veteran's lipomas in the chest, abdomen, back, right arm, and left arm have been granted a 10% rating each. The veteran also received a 20% rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left buttock (Muscle Group XVII) and a 20% rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the low back (Muscle Group XX). No compensable rating was granted for multiple laparotomies of the abdomen. The veteran's right shoulder arthritis has been granted a 10% rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD and found that he is entitled to benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis C due to VA hospitalization in November 1991.

The veteran died from liver failure due to alcoholism, which was aggravated by cirrhosis and ascites. The claim is denied as there is no evidence linking the death to service-connected conditions.

The veteran died in 1998 from probable complications of pulmonary hypertension and hepatic cirrhosis. There is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis is healed without residual symptoms and does not warrant a higher rating.