Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of information on qualified representatives, and the appellant is advised that he can request one if needed.

The Board denied an increased rating for hepatitis and the entitlement to higher ratings for residuals of a fracture of the carpal navicular bone of the right hand, both since November 22, 2002. The veteran's claim for compensable rating before that date remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for Hepatitis B and assigned a zero percent disability rating, effective from the date of the July 2001 rating decision.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right-sided chronic pain, secondary to hepatitis B, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and denied service connection for hepatitis. The veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred in service, while there is no evidence of current hepatitis or its residuals.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and information.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional notifications under the VCAA.

The Board found that the veteran's low back, neck, diabetes mellitus Type II, and hepatitis C disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance was denied because it was not filed within the required two-year period after his service connection for PTSD was determined, and there is no evidence of mental incompetence during that time.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis, PTSD, and bronchial asthma. The claim for hepatitis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. PTSD was denied as there is no verified history of the condition. Bronchial asthma did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's claims for hepatitis A and B, as well as low back sprain, have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for the low back sprain but denied for hepatitis A and B.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's Hepatitis-C was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's death was caused by a cerebrovascular accident due to or as a consequence of eczema and hepatitis C. The service-connected chronic atopic eczematoid dermatitis (neurodermatitis) is considered the primary cause, with leukocytoclastic vasculitis with cryoglobulinemia contributing substantially to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the veteran contracted the virus due to blood transfusions received during treatment for his service-connected peptic ulcer disease.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, effective November 1, 1993. The appellant argued that this effective date should be retroactive to when she filed her claim in December 1993.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service and denied the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that neither condition was related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of the veteran's death to any event or etiology in service, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and cirrhosis cannot be substantiated, as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development of the medical opinion evidence is required to decide the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C.