Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2003

The veteran's hepatitis C was initially rated at 10 percent, and later increased to 10 percent. However, he has since been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to his hepatitis C, which warrants a 100 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of hepatitis A and hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and denied his claim. For his low back strain, the Board determined that a rating of 20 percent is warranted based on the objective findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it was incurred as a result of his own willful misconduct through the repeated use of drugs during his period of service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for dermatitis, otitis externa, and hepatitis as there was no evidence of significant impairment or disability that would warrant a higher evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to cirrhosis of the liver and bilateral pneumonia, finding no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's residuals of gastric ulcer surgery are related to his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee, and thus service connection is granted. The claims for hepatitis C, a left shoulder disorder, and reopening of lumbosacral spine disc disease claim are remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an increased rating for hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of new VA regulations.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's chronic hepatitis C is not attributable to military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of sinusitis and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The combined rating is 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for malaria and service connection for hepatitis B and C, finding that there was no evidence of active malaria or a causal relationship to service. The veteran's current conditions are attributed to his post-service drug use and unprotected sex.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board found that Hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated during the veteran's active military service and denied the claim.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis as there is no medical evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility to nonservice-connected pension due to a lack of service requirements, as his active duty and inactive duty training did not meet the criteria set by VA regulations.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board concluded that the service-connected conditions did not contribute to the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not service-connected, as there is no credible evidence of in-service exposure to blood or other means of transmission.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran's claim for hepatitis C as a result of blood transfusions due to his service-connected stomach disorder is being remanded for further development and adjudication.