Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The veteran's hepatitis C and PTSD have been rated at the minimum levels allowed by law. The VA has determined that neither condition warrants a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical opinions regarding his hepatitis C claim. His right hand/wrist disability claims are also being remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is no medical evidence establishing a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for hepatitis C service connection was denied as there is no legal basis to award such a date.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluation of tinnitus was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of the maximum rating authorized.,Evidence submitted since the April 2002 denial did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for Hepatitis C and Hypertension, but did raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for PTSD.,The veteran's claim for service connection for Arthritis of the right knee was denied as evidence submitted since the April 2002 denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,Evidence submitted since the December 2002 Board decision related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for PTSD.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to any in-service injury or disease.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the reopening of a claim for an acquired psychiatric disability and seeking an initial evaluation for hepatitis C. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to this withdrawal.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his hepatitis C was incurred during service, and denied the claim.

The Board found that there was no evidence to support service connection for hepatitis B and cirrhosis of the liver, as the veteran did not have a diagnosis during service or within one year after discharge. The VA examiner's opinion supported this finding.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis A, B, and C. The veteran was treated for hepatitis A in service but no current diagnosis of the condition is present. For hepatitis B, there is no evidence linking it to service. Regarding hepatitis C, the claim remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Board has found that the veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a blood transfusion during his military service and the disease was first diagnosed many years after service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The veteran died due to sepsis, with underlying causes of Hepatitis C and liver failure. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of death based on exposure to unsanitary conditions during service. However, she has not received proper VCAA notice.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records, need for clarification of a medical opinion, and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is likely due to an in-service event or incident, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for malaria, hepatitis, sterility, bilateral hearing loss, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, right wrist disorder, and left wrist disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy and denied his claim for service connection. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and hepatitis C are remanded due to the need for additional development.