Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and for VA death pension benefits, finding that there was no evidence linking any condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic liver failure with cirrhosis was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board found that alcoholism, which contributed to the development of the liver disease, was a separate issue from PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the preponderance of evidence was against his claim and concluding that the most likely events constituting a risk factor were blood transfusions received during various surgeries following service.

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

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, hepatitis with liver damage, and residuals of a left elbow injury as they are not related to his active duty or service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 18, 2001 for service connection for allergic rhinitis and pseudofolliculitis barbae are denied. The Board has also remanded the remaining issues of entitlement to service connection.

The veteran's right knee disability with painful and limited motion is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum available evaluation.,The veteran's residuals of a right knee injury with laxity are not compensable based on instability. He is currently assigned a 10 percent rating for this condition.,The veteran's hepatitis C has been evaluated at 10 percent and does not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 31, 2000 for the grant of service connection for hepatitis C and a noncompensable rating for this condition from that date. The veteran is also entitled to a compensable rating (10%) for his hepatitis C prior to November 1, 2001.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C in service or for many years thereafter and no competent evidence linking the condition to the veteran's period of active duty. The claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the veteran's exposure to Hepatitis C during service and its connection to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and the need for further examination regarding PTSD and hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's Hepatitis C was not incurred in service due to his own willful misconduct (illicit drug use), and thus denied service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B as there is no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service infection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and a kidney condition. The claim for a kidney disorder was reopened, but remains denied as there is no competent evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not caused by care, treatment, or examination provided under any law administered by the Secretary, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C is unrelated to his period of active military service and denied the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his hepatitis C, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluation of hepatitis and service connection for arthritis, colon polyps, gastritis, and bilateral foot problems as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis. The Board found that there was no evidence of chronic liver disease or incapacitating episodes related to the hepatitis.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.