Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2011

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for hepatitis C since January 2011, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximate intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia than they do an asymptomatic condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressor. The claims for Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis of the Liver are pending as there is a possibility that they may be service-connected.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, other than PTSD, are found to be related to service. Service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a stab wound to the abdomen, splenectomy, hepatitis C, and GBS have been denied as his statements regarding in-service events are not credible.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for schizophrenia and hepatitis C. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and concluded that any current psychiatric disability is due to a personality disorder that existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. For hepatitis C, the Board determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish its onset during service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C disability results in marked interference with employment, warranting a higher initial 40 percent rating on an extra-schedular basis. The combined service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage criteria for TDIU.

The VA Director for Compensation and Pension Service denied an extraschedular evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C from July 15, 2005 through June 30, 2006 because the available schedular evaluations were adequate to describe his disability level and symptomatology.

The Veteran's end-stage renal disease with hypertension is not found to be related to his service-connected cirrhosis. The rating for his liver disorder remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis, depression, and lung disorder due to potential service connection issues related to his in-service use of heroin and exposure to mustard gas/lewisite.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated at a 60 percent evaluation from June 27, 1994 to June 30, 1996 and since July 4, 2000. The rating remained unchanged for the period between July 1, 1996 and July 3, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his active military service. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that there was inadequate notice provided to the Veteran regarding new and material evidence necessary to reopen his claim of service connection for hepatitis C, and thus remands the case back to the RO for proper notification.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and lichen planus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for further development, including in-service hospital records and post-service medical treatment records. The appeal is pending until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver is not service-connected as it was caused by alcohol use, and his obesity and COPD are not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to, a disability incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claims of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, entitlement to DIC under § 1318, and entitlement to DEA benefits have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 10, 2009 were denied as there was no evidence of unemployability due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The VA determined that the appellant's hepatitis C did not meet the criteria for a higher rating since July 2002, as his symptoms have not been severe enough to warrant an evaluation higher than 10 percent.