Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence, particularly regarding the cause of the veteran's hepatitis C.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's current hepatitis C is related to his military service, including through blood exposure or other potential exposures during service.

The Board found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides, and the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown within one year after service. The claims for eye disability, kidney disease, and hepatitis C were also denied as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as there is no active hepatitis demonstrated and no incapacitating episodes have been shown.

The Board denied service connection for chronic liver disability, including hepatitis B, finding no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current diagnosis and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and an effective date of June 4, 1998 for the award of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's current hepatitis C to his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for hepatitis C, as the RO had already granted service connection with a noncompensable rating effective July 22, 2002.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and need for clarification on the veteran's exposure history.

The VA denied a compensable initial disability evaluation for Hepatitis C as there is no evidence of anorexia or incapacitating episodes due to the condition.

The veteran's death was attributed to liver cancer due to or as a consequence of cirrhosis, which is linked to hepatitis C. Service connection for the cause of death has been granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for chronic alcoholism, PTSD, a chronic liver disorder (cirrhosis), and a chronic pancreatic disorder (pancreatitis). The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's hepatitis C was granted service connection and assigned an initial 60 percent rating effective from the date of service connection (August 30, 2002). A separate 30 percent rating for depression secondary to hepatitis C was also assigned effective September 21, 2005. The veteran's hepatitis C has been rated at a maximum of 60 percent since August 30, 2002 and at 20 percent since March 1, 2004.

The VA determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral foot corns, and Hepatitis C were all denied. The VA found that the veteran did not have a current disability related to his service, except for asymptomatic Hepatitis C.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C and depression claims are not supported by evidence of in-service exposure or a service connection relationship, leading to denial of both claims.

The veteran is seeking service connection for his liver disease, which he claims is related to exposure to Agent Orange. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional information and development.

The Board found that the veteran's current migraine headaches are not related to his service-connected syncopal episodes and denied the claim. The veteran's hepatitis C was also denied as there is no clear evidence linking it to service.

The veteran's appeal is to be remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issue remains about entitlement to an initial or staged rating in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C.

The veteran's claims for liver disorder, hearing loss, PTSD, and burn scars are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence. The specific issues on appeal include service connection for a liver disorder secondary to Agent Orange exposure and service-connected second degree burns, as well as increased ratings for hearing loss, PTSD, and burn scars.