Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2008

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, as there is no medical evidence linking any causes of the veteran's death to an incident or finding during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a service-connected psychiatric disorder, arthritis, or hepatitis C. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis, finding no current diagnosis of the condition and rejecting the veteran's statements as competent evidence to support a claim of viral hepatitis during service.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 40 percent for service-connected hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver, effective from April 21, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, hepatitis B and C, back injury residuals, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, and bronchitis. The claim for tinnitus was granted with a 10 percent evaluation.

The VA determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the veteran was exposed to a potential risk factor during service and now has a current disability. Service connection for hepatitis B is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral pes planus, and a psychiatric illness. The decision found that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's hepatitis A claim was denied. Service connection for left ear hearing loss and varicosities of the left lower extremity were granted, with initial compensable ratings established from May 1, 2003 to June 24, 2005.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during active military service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, PTSD, a low back disorder, and a right shoulder disorder. The denial was based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral foot disability, impotence, chronic liver disease and hepatitis B/C, venous insufficiency with deterioration of arteries, and non-specific urethritis and enlarged prostate. The evidence did not support these claims.,There was no direct or presumptive service connection found for any of the claimed disabilities.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an increased rating for gunshot wound residuals of the right little finger. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding that the veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in or aggravated by military service, and also concluded that the current disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and residuals of burns to the head, face, neck, and chest. The decision found that the veteran's current hepatitis C was not incurred in or related to his period of active service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The evidence showed no treatment for hepatitis during service, and the first diagnosis of hepatitis C occurred 20 years after separation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected hepatitis C and grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's death was attributed to hepatic coma due to metastatic liver cancer, with chronic hepatitis C as a significant contributing condition. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death and related dependency and indemnification compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and clarification of his medical history.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service and have denied each claim.