Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for hepatitis.

The veteran's claims for hepatitis C and a psychiatric disorder are being remanded to the RO for further adjudication, including scheduling of a personal hearing before a Member of the Board.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his service-connected subacute serum hepatitis with enlargement of the liver and TDIU, finding that compensation is prohibited due to the veteran's own willful misconduct in using drugs.

The Board has remanded this case to re-adjudicate the service connection issue, including whether Hepatitis B is the result of the veteran's own willful misconduct. The claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes remains in abeyance.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for hepatitis with cirrhosis of the liver, splenomegaly, and hepatic encephalopathy since July 19, 1997. The current rating is based on recurrent epigastric pain, moderately-elevated liver function tests, splenomegaly, and hepatic encephalopathy with occasional confusion, poor balance, and memory loss.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder, including hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there was no evidence linking the current condition to in-service hepatitis.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him helpless or so nearly helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor does he have a permanent housebound condition due to disability.

The Board found that the VA-prescribed medication did not cause or aggravate the veteran's hepatitis C, and thus denied his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were not present during service or for many years thereafter, and they were not caused by any incident of service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hepatitis is not productive of any symptoms warranting a compensable rating under either the old or new VA criteria for evaluating hepatitis. The veteran's hepatitis is currently rated as zero percent disabling.

The Board found that Hepatitis C was not related to service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of hepatitis, finding no current evidence of liver disability or other chronic liver disease due to service.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis was not incurred in the line of duty and thus denied service connection. The appeal to sever this condition from his record is also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim, but still denies service connection for residuals of hepatitis as there is no evidence of current disability or chronic liver disease.

The VA has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is currently manifested by no more than mild symptoms and thus does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis as secondary to his right knee disorder and denied his requests for increased ratings for his right knee disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran's current hepatitis or right knee disorders were related to military service.

The Board found no evidence of a blood transfusion during service and concluded that hepatitis C is not related to the veteran's military service, including his in-service diagnosis of subclinical hepatitis.