Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2001

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver due to hepatitis B, post-operative liver transplant and assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation.

The veteran died of hepatocellular carcinoma due to alcohol-related cirrhosis. Service connection for the cause of death is denied as his alcoholism was not service-connected.

The veteran's application for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or adaptive equipment was denied due to lack of loss of use of one or both feet, but he is eligible for adaptive equipment.

The veteran's hepatitis C with portal fibrosis and cirrhosis, pulmonary sarcoidosis with dry eyes, and other service-connected conditions are all rated at the maximum available disability rating. The effective date for the grant of service connection is May 7, 1992.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, finding that there is no current disability as a result of the hepatitis incurred during service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's claim for pension benefits due to non-service connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the extent of his disabilities.

The Board found that chronic diarrhea and hepatitis were not incurred or aggravated during the veteran's active duty service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for hepatitis. The decision found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher PTSD rating, and his hepatitis was determined to be unrelated to military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent initial disability rating for hepatitis B, finding that the veteran's subjective complaints are associated with his service-connected condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for further clarification of his military history and subsequent medical records, including a VA examination.

The appellant's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to his combined disability rating of 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for chronic hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver and a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to work.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus and hepatitis were not incurred in service, and denied his claims for service connection. The chronic fatigue and memory loss issues did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of the assigned ratings.

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

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death of her deceased husband, finding that the veteran's service medical records were not available and that the appeal was not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected Hepatitis C, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's current liver disability, characterized as hepatitis C and/or cirrhosis, is not related to his service. The claim for increased rating of bronchial asthma remains pending.