Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2005

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

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of Hepatitis C in service or a nexus to service, and thus the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's hepatitis is associated with alcohol abuse and the claim for service connection is denied as it lacks legal merit due to the provisions of OBRA 1990.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions and thus, service connection cannot be established. The veteran's claims are denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis-C, which he claims is related to his active service and exposure to herbicides, has been denied as there is no evidence of a recognized risk factor for the disease during service or an episode of blood poisoning resulting in the current condition.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a skin disorder in August 1999. The veteran's claim of reopening the PTSD claim was denied, but his claim of reopening the skin disorder claim was granted with new evidence supporting a diagnosis of eczema.,Service connection for hepatitis C is not established.

The Board found that the cause of death was hemorrhage, with esophageal varicosities and cirrhosis of the liver as sequential causes. The evidence did not support presumptive service connection for cirrhosis due to its onset occurring over two decades after discharge. Service connection based on herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) was also denied.

The Board determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim for service connection for liver disease (to include hepatitis). The claims for psychiatric disability and right ear hearing loss were also denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis, enlarged liver and a liver condition, and urinary tract infection and kidney disease as the veteran's conditions were not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for an opinion on the etiology of the veteran's hepatitis C.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for sinusitis, residuals of finger fractures, or GERD with hepatitis B. Service connection was also not established for swollen and painful joints, pain and pressure in the chest, jaundice with allergic hepatitis from reaction to TB serum, cyst of left ear, eye condition, back pain, hip pain, residuals of a laceration to the left palm, headaches, or left ear condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C originated during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected skin disorders and the development of hepatitis C.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and hepatitis C as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The appeal is now pending again with the Board.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C in service or any link to service, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine disc disease, hepatitis C, and a left shoulder disorder. The claim for service connection for gastric ulcer was granted with an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board found no evidence linking hepatitis C or cirrhosis of the liver to the veteran's service, including any exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hepatitis C and determined that it was incurred in service, granting the claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and cirrhosis of the liver is being remanded due to a need for further medical examination.