Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it was not incurred during active duty and was instead due to his own drug abuse.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic hepatitis was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schistosomiasis, which he contracted during his military service, resulted in chronic liver disease (nutritional hepatitis and cirrhosis). The Board granted service connection for these residuals.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his active service or herbicide exposure, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hepatitis was not incurred or related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of chronic liver disease due to hepatitis C and hepatitis B is as likely as not related to his in-service episodes of treatment for viral hepatitis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability and hepatitis C.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for non-service-connected pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and updated employment information.

The veteran's claims for service connection and proper initial ratings on various conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection or an appropriate rating for any of the claimed conditions.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Hepatitis C, which has already been granted with a 10% rating since August 27, 1999. The case must be returned to the RO to schedule a Board videoconference hearing.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C.

The veteran's service-connected hepatitis C has been rated at 40 percent effective July 31, 2003. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for herniated nucleus pulposus is being remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's current hepatitis was not present during service and is not etiologically related to his service.

The Board found that the veteran's current hepatitis C infection is not service-connected, as there was no credible evidence of exposure to blood products or means of transmission during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is likely attributable to an in-service episode of hepatitis, and not due to drug abuse or other misconduct. Therefore, service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has restored the veteran's 60 percent rating for hepatitis and denied his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, a psychiatric disability, and hepatitis C. The claim for reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities is also denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to the issues of tinnitus, perforation of the tympanic membrane, and hepatitis due to the veteran's withdrawal of his appeals. The veteran was informed that service connection for hepatitis could not be granted because it is not shown to have been incurred in service.