Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current disability to military service or any recognized risk factor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination reports and outpatient treatment records. The claims for increased ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that he contracted Hepatitis C (HCV) as a result of VA treatment, including surgery for left total hip replacement. The Board concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to link HCV to the February 1990 surgery and denied both service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's liver disability, hepatitis B and C, low back disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asbestosis, and major depressive disorder are not related to his service. The diagnoses were attributed to post-service drug use.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and hepatitis C is found not to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C and to determine which risk factor is most likely attributable.

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

The Board found that hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied the claim.

The appellant contends that the Veteran died from complications brought on by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), which she argues was incurred in service. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and opinions regarding the relationship between the HCV infection and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and entitlement to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to lack of evidence linking his current disabilities to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for eye pain and Hepatitis B, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for eye pain and concluding that Hepatitis B did not result from service.

The Veteran's hepatitis B is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher initial rating for hepatitis B is not warranted at any time during the pendency of this claim.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending before the Court.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim.

The VA determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, as there is no evidence of a connection between his active duty and the development of the condition. The Board found that the current diagnosis of hepatitis C occurred decades after service and did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a nexus with service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, hepatitis C, and a gastrointestinal disorder. The Board denied the remaining claims of service connection for low back, headache, sinus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.