Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2008

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis, as well as his eligibility for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis C are not supported by evidence of record. The claim for PTSD is denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors, while the claim for hepatitis C is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current conditions of hepatitis and HIV/AIDS are not related to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board denied a compensable rating for hepatitis C, status post-hepatitis A infection from September 18, 1977 to August 16, 2000 due to the lack of competent medical evidence showing demonstrable liver damage with mild gastrointestinal disturbance during that period.

The Board found no credible evidence that the veteran contracted Hepatitis C during military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

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

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease, hepatitis C, and Tourette's syndrome. The evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for hepatitis C service connection, increased PTSD rating, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that Hepatitis C is attributable to service and grants the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the veteran's Hepatitis C is related to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis and cervical spine disorder, as well as his requests for higher ratings for vitiligo and an earlier effective date. The decision also addressed a claim for a nervous disorder secondary to service-connected vitiligo.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hepatitis C and finds that new evidence received since the March 2003 rating decision is sufficient to reopen the claim. However, the Board concludes that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the appellant's current diagnosis of hepatitis C was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to confirm a current diagnosis of hepatitis C and address the medical questions essential to resolving this appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, hepatitis C and Lyme disease due to new evidence submitted by the veteran's representative.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence to support a secondary service connection claim for cirrhosis of the liver.

The veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for hyperkeratosis of the feet and service connection for hepatitis C were denied. The veteran failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in conjunction with his claim for a compensable evaluation for hyperkeratosis, which resulted in denial of that claim. For hepatitis C, the evidence does not establish a link between the condition and military service.

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