Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, residuals of a neck injury, hypertension, hepatitis A, left ear hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's claimed hepatitis C due to a lack of medical evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death. The DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 issue is also denied.

The veteran's service connection claims for residuals of infectious mononucleosis and infectious hepatitis are granted.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to new and material evidence. However, the VA examiner concluded that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his prostate cancer residuals was granted, with a current evaluation of 60 percent effective March 24, 2003. The claims for service connection for hepatitis C and thyroid condition remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the veteran's risk factors during service likely exposed him to hepatitis C. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of a right hand fracture, hepatitis C, and a left cheek scar as there was no evidence to support these claims. The veteran's major depressive disorder was not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran's hepatitis C was found to be incurred in service, and his seizure disorder is considered a recurrence of an existing condition. The Board granted these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or depression related to his military service and denied all claims of service connection. The hearing loss claim is pending as there are conflicting audiometric test results.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for the cause of death of her husband, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of December 20, 2002, for the grant of service connection for Hepatitis B as there was no pending claim prior to that date.

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension. The claims for service connection for glaucoma, hepatitis C, and PTSD have been addressed, with the PTSD claim resulting in a grant of a disability rating of 70 percent. The TDIU claim has also been restored.

The veteran's claim for service connection for alcoholic liver disease (claimed as end stage cirrhosis of the liver) and increased rating for hepatitis was denied. The Board found that his liver disease is not related to his service-connected hepatitis, and thus secondary service connection is not granted.

The veteran's hypothyroidism is rated at 10% effective from the date of service connection, and his hepatitis C rating remains noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the appellant timely filed a Notice of Disagreement with respect to the January 2004 rating decision, and thus the appeal is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected hepatitis C. The veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective January 15, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that hemochromatosis existed prior to service and was not aggravated therein. The other secondary service connection claims were also denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C. The Board finds that the complete service medical records are not of record and requests them from NPRC. Additional post-service treatment records should also be obtained.