Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his service-connected hepatitis C, which developed in service and led to liver cancer. As such, the cause of the veteran's death is now considered service connected.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, liver disease (including cirrhosis and hepatitis C), arteriosclerosis, and hypertension as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or association with these conditions.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence of hepatitis B or hypertension being related to service. The veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have residuals of hepatitis C that are causally related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the award of compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 (West 2002) for steatohepatitis was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus denying the severance.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for hypertension, a skin disorder, and Hepatitis C. The Board also found that there was no new and material evidence to reopen his claim for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis B and C, hearing loss of the left ear, tinnitus, increased rating for left varicocele, and increased rating for right inguinal hernia scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no competent medical evidence linking his condition to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis B, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's GERD with duodenitis and hepatitis C is rated at 60 percent, effective March 30, 2001. The veteran's bronchitis secondary to asbestos exposure is rated at 10 percent. Service connection for a left eye disorder has been granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, hypertension, osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, and chronic colds/allergies due to asbestos exposure have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no current diagnosis of hepatitis. Hypertension was not shown in service or within one year after discharge. Osteoarthritis of the right and left knees were not shown in service or during the first year post-service, and there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's end stage liver disease, including chronic hepatitis B infection and cirrhosis of the liver, is related to his military service. The case is remanded for further development.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C and other disabilities.,The veteran seeks service connection for disability due to exposure to Agent Orange. He also seeks secondary service connection for hypertension and cardiomyopathy related to his PTSD.,The veteran requests an increased evaluation for his right thoracotomy residuals, and a higher rating for his PTSD.,He is seeking an effective date earlier than November 8, 2002 for the addition of his spouse as a dependent. He also seeks review of the April 1971 decision denying service connection for tuberculosis.,,,,

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his hepatitis C, finding that he did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to June 9, 2000, and found only minimal liver damage with associated fatigue and depression beginning on June 10, 2000.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no link between the veteran's pneumonia or liver disease and his service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's HCV was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no evidence of a current disability and noting that there was no in-service exposure to risk factors.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The residuals of a cold weather injury with peripheral neuropathy were also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the veteran's PTSD and hepatitis C claims. The veteran will need a VA examination for both conditions.