Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2002

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 30, 1995 for a 60 percent evaluation for service-connected hepatitis.

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

The veteran's initial 10 percent evaluation for recurrent chronic hepatitis C, status post liver transplant, from May 31, 1992 to October 27, 1993 is granted. From December 1, 1995 onwards, a rating higher than 30 percent is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatic coma and cirrhosis of the liver were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred due to a period of wartime service. The Board also determined that there was no evidence showing that the veteran's death was caused by his service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran did not have hepatitis, gallbladder disorder, bowel disorder, or kidney disorder as a result of service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his PTSD to his eventual death and noting unsubstantiated claims regarding Agent Orange exposure and alcohol abuse.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of infectious hepatitis, finding that the veteran incurred this condition during active duty and continues to have problems with his liver. The claim is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disorder related to his claimed asbestos exposure or any chronic illness due to fluctuating weight, joint/muscle complaints, hepatitis, Rickettsia, Leishmania or chronic viral infections. The veteran's sleep disorder and subluxation of the left shoulder were also found not to warrant an increased rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for viral hepatitis B, a bilateral knee disorder, and residuals of viral meningoencephalitis with mild memory impairment, mild expressive aphasia, and headaches. The back disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B, finding that there is no current disability related to his in-service exposure and thus no valid claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer with hepatitis is currently manifested by complaints of epigastric distress, fatigue, and depression. There is no recent objective medical evidence of an active ulcer or liver damage. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found no current hepatitis or residuals of prior hepatitis and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hepatitis and an increased evaluation for his orthotopic cardiac transplantation with cardiomyopathy and renal insufficiency, finding no current diagnosis of hepatitis in the medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's current hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for viral hepatitis due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial in June 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his in-service exposure to hepatitis A and any present condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda as due to hepatitis, finding that his hepatitis was not incurred in line of duty and that he did not have porphyria cutanea tarda caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected hepatitis B and C is currently rated at 30 percent from December 1, 1997 to July 1, 2001. He seeks a higher rating for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected hepatitis-B is manifested by positive antibodies reflecting only a history of prior exposure; she has no symptoms and there is no sign of cirrhosis or any demonstrable liver damage.