Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it is related to his military service. The claim for an increased rating for infectious hepatitis with psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction remains denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his military service and the condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for hepatitis B was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10 percent evaluation. The effective date of the grant of service connection for hepatitis B remains July 16, 1998.

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

The veteran's hepatitis A has been rated at 10 percent since October 1996, and this rating remains unchanged as of July 2, 2001.

The Board found that the veteran's current mildly active HCV was not incurred in service, but it is at least as likely as not (50%) that he contracted HCV during his military service. The claim for service connection remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C is more likely due to post-service IV drug abuse, and thus not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding no evidence of the condition during or within one year after military service and concluding that it is not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis-C and Neurodermatitis, finding no evidence to support a direct relationship with his military service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claims for hepatitis B and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis, concluding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between any in-service hepatitis and current manifestations.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and hepatitis C did not meet the criteria for enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) because he was not rated totally disabled for at least eight years prior to his death.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the requirements for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 and denied service connection for the cause of death due to alcoholism.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and need for a VA examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has found that the veteran's current impotence is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure. The issue of hepatitis C was not addressed in this decision as it pertains to a different basis for connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, as there is no evidence of a current disability and no medical opinion linking his condition to service. The appeal for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran was not adequately advised of the provisions of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and has ordered a remand for further development, including sending the veteran a letter detailing VCAA rights and responsibilities, scheduling a VA medical examination, and ensuring compliance with all VCAA mandates.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and Hepatitis C, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors or a diagnosis related to service.