Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2010

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

The Veteran's nerve entrapment syndrome is found to be proximately due to VA surgery and treatment, meeting the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151. Service connection for hepatitis C is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis B or any associated residuals, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B and a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of active hepatitis B or any residuals thereof. The Veteran's claim for a left knee disorder was remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated at 10 percent from May 8, 2001 to June 17, 2002. From June 18, 2002 to May 21, 2003, the rating was increased to 20 percent. After that period, a 10 percent rating has been maintained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 5, 2007 for service connection for hepatitis C with cirrhosis due to a lack of medical evidence linking his disease to service.

The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's Hepatitis C was caused by an event or incident during active service. Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board determined that the evidence demonstrates a nexus between the Veteran's current Hepatitis C and active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hepatitis C with cirrhosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment records and VA medical records, as well as scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's liver disorder, claimed as liver damage, is related to his service-connected porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial disability rating greater than 40 percent for hepatitis C has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further review of the medical records.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was manifested by intermittent or daily symptoms of fatigue, requiring continuous medication. The RO granted a noncompensable disability rating for the period from August 1, 2002 through March 22, 2005 and a 10 percent disability rating thereafter.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to a ruptured eardrum during military service. The other claims of service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the etiology of his hepatitis C disability, including consideration of risk factors such as handling wounded soldiers without gloves and having pre-service headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, blocked nose, skin condition, spinal cord or low back injury, respiratory disorder (claimed due to asbestos exposure), and other conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of service origin for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his hepatitis C and depression, as well as whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C. The Board acknowledges that the Veteran's active duty was from 1969 to 1970, but there are no records indicating any risk factors related to his current condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's disabilities resulting from a November 1961 motor vehicle accident were due to his own willful misconduct, and thus not incurred in line of duty. As such, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied both his claim for service connection and his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (cardiopulmonary arrest) was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking liver cirrhosis or liver cancer to his service. The appeal is denied.