Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C is related to his use of intravenous illegal drugs during active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's death was not service-connected, but he had a total disability rating for PTSD that lasted more than 10 years before his death. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, a bilateral foot condition, or a psychiatric disorder due to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and an addendum opinion to determine if the veteran's hepatitis C is related to his service as a medical corpsman.

The veteran's hepatitis C is rated at 30 percent disabling from January 1999, but the Board found that his disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's death was caused by respiratory failure due to pneumonia, cirrhosis, and anemia. The service-connected bilateral cataracts are not considered the cause of death. No other conditions related to service or service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis and gout, both of which were previously denied in September 1979 and May 1989 respectively.

The VA reduced the veteran's evaluation for Hepatitis C status post cirrhosis and liver transplant from 100 percent to 30 percent, finding that this reduction was procedurally and factually proper.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, earlier effective date for TDIU, and DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between any service-connected condition and the veteran's death.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by the veteran's active duty service and denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's hepatitis C has been consistently reported as asymptomatic, and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. Therefore, the criteria for a higher initial evaluation have not been met.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of Hepatitis C and an effective date prior to January 6, 2003 for a 100 percent disability evaluation for PTSD. The Board found no evidence linking Hepatitis C to active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, myeloproliferative disorder, polycythemia vera, hyperkalemia, and hypercalcemia as there is no current evidence of residuals from hepatitis or a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and an increased rating for infectious hepatitis. The veteran was not granted service connection as his claimed conditions were not present in service or linked to military service, and no new evidence had been submitted to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA medical opinion on the relationship between the veteran's hepatitis C and his in-service symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including arthritis, osteoporosis, pneumonia, hypertension, hernia, Hepatitis B, and benign prostatic hypertrophy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current chronic hepatitis is not related to his in-service hepatitis infection, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have residuals of hepatitis C, an undiagnosed bacterial infection (claimed as a Lyme-type disease), or residuals of an immune deficiency disorder. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.