Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for Hepatitis C with chronic liver disease, and major depressive disorder. The decision found no evidence linking the current diagnoses to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic infectious hepatitis with cirrhosis and bilateral pes planus, as well as his service connection claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease, a left elbow disorder, and a left knee disorder. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran's hypertension and basal cell carcinoma of the scalp claims have been reopened due to new evidence. However, his hepatitis claim has not met the criteria for service connection.,Service connection is denied for hepatitis as there is no medical evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's substance abuse and hepatitis C were not caused or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right eye disability, hepatitis C, and an increased rating for residuals of a right hip injury. The evidence does not support granting any of these claims.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for post-operative residuals of a right knee injury was denied. The current disability rating remains at 20 percent, effective from the date of the March 2003 decision.

The veteran's hepatitis C is productive of demonstrable liver damage with mild gastrointestinal disturbance, warranting a 10 percent disability rating from March 9, 2006.

The veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, anxiety and depression, hepatitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are all denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, they are not related to service, or the evidence does not support a finding that they were incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, but denied service connection for hypertension as it is not shown to be related to the veteran's time in service.

The Board has determined that there is no current medical diagnosis of PTSD, and thus the claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The issue of hepatitis C remains pending.

The Board is remanding both issues for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination to assess his current left hip and knee disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, a heart condition with hypertension, memory loss with speech problems, and glaucoma. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected Hepatitis C and denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected Hepatitis C.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, a personality disorder, and an upper respiratory disability. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or injury that led to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of reopening service connection for a psychiatric disability and hepatitis, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran claims service connection for hepatitis C. The VA has ordered an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hepatitis C, but the examiner did not have access to all relevant medical records at the time of the April 2002 VA examination.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for Hepatitis C, finding that the veteran's condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or daily fatigue and malaise.