Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic hepatitis, hypertension, and a cardiac murmur have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have any residual disability from his in-service episode of acute hepatitis, his hypertension was diagnosed many years after service, and his cardiac murmur preexisted service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to issues related to the appellant's service discharge and his claims for alcoholism and hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence linking the Veteran's current hepatitis C to his military service, specifically any in-service risk factors or exposure. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to address this issue.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims for residuals of frozen feet, head injury, PTSD, and TDIU were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his hepatitis C, as he contends that his condition has worsened since the last evaluation in February 2006.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and additional medical records retrieval.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hepatitis C. The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and its incurrence or aggravation during active service may not be presumed. Diabetes mellitus was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and its incurrence or aggravation during active service may not be presumed. Resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor, hepatitis C was incurred in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C and determined that new evidence received since the last final denial supports a finding of current disability. The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically related to his history of intravenous drug use.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not show daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia requiring dietary restriction or continuous medication, nor incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's hepatitis was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and HIV/AIDS, to include as secondary to the psychiatric disorder, are reopened but denied.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current hepatitis disorder or an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as depression related to service. The lung disorder was not shown to be directly related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hepatitis C began in service or is otherwise related to a disease or injury in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B due to new and material evidence. However, it was determined that he does not have a current disability of hepatitis B or malaria for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated at 60 percent disabling, which approximates the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also has cirrhosis of the liver, but this does not warrant an additional separate rating as it is considered part of his hepatitis C.

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