Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2001

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, but denied the claim as his hepatitis was not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to changes in the law, including compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and hepatitis C are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection are not well grounded and requires additional development to determine if there is evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 24, 1995, for the grant of service connection for hepatitis is denied as his application was received more than a year after his discharge from active service.

The veteran claims service connection for hepatitis C, which he contends was incurred during his military service. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current existence and etiology of the condition.

The Board has found that the claim is not well grounded and requires additional development, including a VA examination to determine if Hepatitis C is related to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis due to new and material evidence. However, it is determined that his hepatitis was more likely caused by his own willful misconduct or drug abuse rather than being incurred during his military service.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was denied due to his failure to appear for VA examinations.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected hepatitis C has been granted, but the effective date is not specified. The current record does not contain a report of a contemporaneous examination of the veteran's hepatitis C.

The veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver is denied as it is due to alcohol abuse, not related to his military service. The claim for PTSD remains pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

The veteran's hepatitis was not incurred in or aggravated by his service. The RO increased the evaluations for his service-connected somatoform disorder and cervical strain with degenerative joint disease and disc disease to 50 percent and 20 percent, respectively, effective December 2, 1992.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, tuberculosis, COPD, skin disorders, hepatitis, defective vision, and a blood disorder secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda and hepatitis, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The claims were not well grounded.

The Board finds that hepatitis C is related to the veteran's military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has remanded the case due to new regulations and the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining medical records from SSA.

The Board has remanded the case due to new laws and regulations requiring additional development of evidence, including obtaining service personnel records and clarifying the veteran's history of drug use during military service.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest schedular rating available, and his claim for hepatitis C with pancreatitis was denied due to lack of timely appeal.

The veteran's schizophrenia is rated at 100 percent, and he has been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability. The liver damage claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 remains pending.

The Board found that the November 1995 rating decision denying service connection for various conditions was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his cervical spine disability.