Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for secondary service connection are denied as there is no evidence of record showing that his claimed conditions were aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for obesity, myositis, and hepatitis C. The claim for hepatitis C was also denied under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of evidence of a service-connected disability.

The veteran's psychiatric disorder is service-connected, but he cannot receive compensation under the 1151 provision for his liver disease due to a lack of causal connection.

The veteran's hepatitis and skin disorder were not service-connected, and the Board found that his hepatitis did not cause or aggravate any of his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for hepatitis C to determine if it is related to service, including tattoos or a blood transfusion after a fall in September 1973. The case will be re-adjudicated following the VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records and arrange for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure), and hepatitis B. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injuries or exposures related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence to establish PTSD, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The issue of hepatitis C remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not incur hepatitis in service and his currently diagnosed hepatitis is not otherwise related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection of hepatitis is denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current residuals of hepatitis, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C is unrelated to his active duty service and denied the claim. The mental disorder issue was not addressed due to a hearing request being withdrawn.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and denied both his claim for service connection for PTSD and his request for an increased rating for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for mitral valve degeneration and hepatitis C, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty. The appeals for PTSD and right shoulder disability are addressed in a separate remand.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, and a chronic prostate disorder. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss, Hepatitis C, and sleep apnea.,Service connection was not granted for PTSD or tinnitus due to insufficient evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected hepatitis C, as there was no evidence showing that his condition warranted such a rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the veteran's hepatitis C disability and considering staged ratings. The appeal is now pending with the RO.

The veteran's hepatitis C was rated at 40 percent since July 2, 2001. The Board found that the condition met the criteria for a 40 percent rating during this period.