Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran's hepatitis C was not related to his military service, and the evidence did not support an increased rating for his hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder and granted it. The claim for hepatitis C was not addressed in this decision as it is being remanded.

The Board finds that the veteran's service experience is consistent with combat, and his statements about stressors are credible. Therefore, the acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is granted as incurred in service.

The veteran's hepatitis C was rated at 10% from May 25, 1999 to the present. The VA determined that his condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or other manifestations of fatigue and weakness.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic hepatitis warrants a 10 percent disability rating, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current symptoms and employment status.

The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected and denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the eligibility for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, given his positive hepatitis C antibody test and exposure to a potentially infected roommate.

The Board has determined that hepatitis C is the result of disease or injury incurred during active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and obsessive-compulsive disorder, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is currently rated as noncompensable, but a higher rating of 10% has been granted effective from July 2, 2001. The scar associated with the left eye injury remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for hepatitis, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The Board found no evidence to support a service origin of the veteran's hepatitis C and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural issues and to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to alcoholic cirrhosis, which was found to be caused by his service-connected depressive disorder. The issue of dependency and indemnity compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and a lung disorder characterized by shortness of breath due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of outstanding VA records.

The veteran's liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating from April 24, 1987 to September 27, 2000.

The veteran's liver disorder, diagnosed as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, was found to have begun during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service, including exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection was denied for all issues.