Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the intertwining nature with his claims for secondary service connection for alcohol and drug abuse related to his schizophrenia. The RO/AMC must develop these issues further before deciding on the hepatitis C claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hepatitis C that is attributable to her active military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressor.,Service connection for Hepatitis C was also denied as there is no objective evidence linking the condition to service.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C. The claim for pes planus was previously denied in November 1973 without new and material evidence being submitted.

The Board found no current diagnosis of hepatitis C and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied because there is no evidence of an in-service event or condition that may be associated with the disease. The claims for increased rating for a right fifth finger disability, service connection for tinnitus, and entitlement to pension were not addressed due to lack of specific findings on examination.

The veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes.,There is no competent evidence of current active hepatitis B or residuals of any hepatitis B infection treated during service.

The veteran's combined rating is 50%, which does not meet the requirements for a permanent and total disability rating on an extraschedular basis due to his age, education, and occupational background. The Board finds that he is not unemployable by reason of his disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and depression secondary to hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has addressed the claims of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease of the spine, an initial compensable evaluation for herpes, a compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae and residuals of hepatitis, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for postoperative residuals, right foot and right great toe with degenerative changes. The claims are REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, D.C.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

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

The veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed due to exposure to herbicides in service. The claim for hepatitis C remains pending as the evidence does not establish a clear connection with service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluations.

The veteran's PTSD was previously rated at 50% prior to February 23, 1999. The case is being remanded for additional development regarding hepatitis C and the current rating of PTSD.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C, was not related to his service or any service-connected disability. The Board also found that the veteran's PTSD did not contribute to his death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C. The veteran was previously granted a 10 percent rating for his hepatitis C, effective December 19, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, PTSD, and hepatitis C as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board found that the veteran did not have hepatitis B during his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hepatitis did not have its onset during service and is otherwise unrelated to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hepatitis was denied.