Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2002

The veteran's death is not attributed to VA medical treatment, and the cause of his death was due to hypotension resulting from gastrointestinal bleed secondary to hepatic failure.

The veteran's hepatitis C is granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a blood transfusion during VA hospitalization in June 1977, and the claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected right ear otitis media is denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current conditions, including hypertension, hepatitis, and irritable bowel syndrome, to his service or any in-service occurrences. The Board concluded that these conditions are not related to his Persian Gulf Service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for hepatitis, and thus the June 1997 RO decision remains final.

The veteran's hepatitis C is most likely the result of a December 1977 surgery at a VA hospital, warranting compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis C. The veteran's left shoulder injury has been rated as 30 percent disabling due to its severity and limitations.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a psychiatric examination and reconsideration of the PTSD rating, as well as remanding the TDIU and gastrointestinal disorder issues.

The Board found no evidence of chronic hepatitis or malaria during service, and the veteran does not have current disabilities related to these conditions. The claim for service connection for hepatitis and malaria is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C as there was no evidence of exposure or diagnosis during service, and current medical records do not link the condition to service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis, concluding that there is no evidence of chronic hepatitis or residual disability from past episodes of hepatitis incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have hepatitis and there is no evidence of a current disability resulting from an injury suffered or disease contracted in line of duty. The claim for service connection for hepatitis is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, and his hepatitis is healed with no current symptoms or residuals. Therefore, both conditions have been denied.

The Board found that the veteran's athlete's foot and blood disorder (including hepatitis) were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to be related to service as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that hepatitis C with early cirrhosis is related to service and granted the claim.

The Board denied service connection for prostatic hypertrophy and hepatitis. The denial was based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current liver disorder or any chronic liver disease during active service, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of abdominal trauma, status post small intestine repair and bowel resection, lysis of adhesions with temporary colostomy, cholecystectomy, and chronic hepatitis C.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for chronic hepatitis, claimed as secondary to medication prescribed by the VA, was denied because his hepatitis C is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to VA-prescribed medication.

The Board granted a 60 percent disability evaluation for post-hepatic cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis C, effective January 18, 1994. The veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence submitted in July 23, 1993.

The veteran's hepatitis C is found to be proximately due to or the result of surgeries for his service-connected right knee condition, and thus secondary service connection is granted.

The Board found that the cause of death, hepatic renal syndrome due to or as a consequence of liver cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis, was not caused by or contributed substantially or materially to the veteran's death. The service-connected conditions (hepatitis homologous and bronchiectasis) did not play a role in his death.