Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and for certificates of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptations due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver, fatigue, and depression effective March 7, 2000. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The veteran's claim for pension benefits was received on April 16, 2001. The effective date for the grant of a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is set at April 16, 2001, the date of receipt of his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and there is no evidence linking Hepatitis C to service, including exposure to Agent Orange or shrapnel wounds. Therefore, both claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis type C due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the likelihood of a connection between the veteran's current hepatitis C and his service, given his allegations about exposure in combat zones.

The Board found that the veteran does not have hepatitis or a blood disorder, and his peptic ulcer disease is inactive with no current manifestations warranting a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C infection is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and information from Social Security Administration.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent evaluation, effective from August 10, 2001. The veteran's claims for a skin disorder due to exposure to herbicides and Hepatitis C remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and review.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of evidence linking his liver disease to military service, and the claim was not reopened as he died before further development could be completed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to issues related to hepatitis and an increased evaluation for orthotopic cardiac transplantation with cardiomyopathy and renal insufficiency.

The Board has determined that there is a need for further VA assistance in obtaining additional medical records to support the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, herpes simplex virus, and hepatitis C. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active duty and attributing it to his own drug use.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected infectious hepatitis was denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary regarding the claims on appeal, including obtaining a medical expert opinion from VA to clarify the relationship between the veteran's service-connected PTSD and his alcohol and drug abuse, as well as their impact on his death.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for hepatitis was reopened on new evidence, but the other conditions are not supported by the evidence presented.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's hepatitis C, including potential service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for service-connected residuals of hepatitis B infection is being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.