Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that hepatitis C is due to service, and thus grants the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had hepatitis during his military service, which is currently diagnosed as hepatitis C. Service connection for hepatitis C is therefore granted.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to exposure to blood in combat or air gun inoculation, and whether there is sufficient evidence to grant service connection.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

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

The Veteran's hepatitis C was initially rated at 10 percent prior to July 7, 2008, and later increased to 40 percent effective from July 2008. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted for the period before July 2009, but granted a 60 percent rating thereafter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it is more likely related to his illicit drug use in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection for an eye disorder (presbyopia and astigmatism) has been granted, but hepatitis B remains unproven.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for additional medical records.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hepatitis, to include hepatitis B and C. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary in the case.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations for hepatitis C was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for any of the requested increased ratings.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer, post-operative vagotomy, hemigastrectomy and gastrojejunostomy are currently rated at 30 percent. The Board denied an increased rating as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher evaluation. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, a lung disability, and a lower back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD, hepatitis C, and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's adult-onset diabetes is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service near the DMZ in Korea, and thus presumptive service connection for adult-onset diabetes is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a skin disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims. The claim for hepatitis C was based on the absence of any in-service diagnosis or risk factors, while the claim for the skin disorder was not supported by medical nexus evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for residual scar of right knee cyst and denied service connection for cyst behind the right ear. Service connection is also granted for hepatitis C, but not for low back disability.

The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver is not etiologically related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus or his period of military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, left varicocele, epididymitis, and ganglion cyst of the left leg. The decision also noted that there was no evidence of current hearing loss disability under VA standards.