Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2001

The veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic urinary tract infection, hepatitis, or liver disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's death was caused by metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, which is considered a service-connected disability due to her pre-existing liver condition. The Board finds that the service-connected liver condition contributed substantially and materially to the cause of death.

The appeal has been dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal (reopening of a claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder) has already been granted.

The Board found that the veteran's cirrhosis of the liver was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability, including his service-connected residuals of fractured cervical spine with traumatic arthritis.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current residuals of hepatitis originated during service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, neuroma of the left foot, multiple lipomas, and hepatitis-C. The appeal was also denied regarding a claim to reopen a previously denied skin disorder secondary to parasite exposure and the March 20, 1996 rating decision on individual unemployability.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of a finding that his Persian Gulf service may have contributed to some of his undiagnosed illness symptoms. The specific conditions and issues are not granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The RO previously denied this claim in April 1995, but the veteran added claims for hepatitis, tinnitus, and scars due to an injury to his right eye. The Board finds that the veteran's PTSD is related to a verified stressful event during service, which was not addressed by the RO in its previous decision.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including post-traumatic organic brain syndrome and foot drop in the left lower extremity, have resulted in a loss of use of one lower extremity with associated residuals. The VA has determined that these conditions meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance.

The veteran's hepatitis C was productive of symptomatology comparable to three or more episodes per year of disabling symptoms related to hepatitis requiring rest therapy, warranting a 100 percent disability evaluation from April 18, 2000 to July 1, 2001.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, but further examination is needed before a determination can be made on whether the condition is related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating and for an effective date prior to November 23, 1994 were denied. The claim for toxic hepatitis (liver disease) and chemical myofascitis secondary to exposure to Agent Orange was not granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an effective date earlier than August 5, 1998 for a 100 percent disability evaluation for Hepatitis C.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver, finding that the veteran's condition was not related to his active military service.

The veteran's hepatitis C was diagnosed as a result of blood transfusions received at a VA medical facility during his heart surgery in October 1976. The Board found that the development of hepatitis C was not reasonably foreseeable and granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected conditions, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as the claimed conditions are not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the September 1986 rating decision denying service connection for hepatitis did not contain clear and unmistakable error, as there was no evidence of a current disability at that time.