Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic liver disorder or hepatitis C during the appeal period and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for his left ankle disorder, hepatitis B, neck disorder, low back disorder, headaches, and nerve disorder in upper extremities. The character of discharge under other than honorable conditions barred VA compensation benefits for these disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, which he claims is a residual of hepatitis. He also asserts that his diabetes is due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and a liver condition as secondary to hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for vertigo and an increased rating for hepatitis C are pending.

The Veteran's appeal to the denial of service connection for hepatitis C was not timely filed, and his claim is denied.

The Board found no current diagnosis of hepatitis B and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected alcoholism, which is now considered a contributory cause of death. The appellant qualifies for additional burial benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria has been withdrawn. The Board is remanding the case to obtain records of his treatment by Dr. Alan and to provide a VA physician with an opinion regarding whether he developed hepatitis C as a result of in-service risk factors or if there is any relationship between the hepatitis A identified shortly after service and the current hepatitis C.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current liver disease, which is hepatitis C without cirrhosis, was not manifest in service and is unrelated to service. The preponderance of evidence indicates it is related to post-service alcohol and intravenous drug abuse.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. Hepatitis C is directly related to her service, while hepatocellular carcinoma was caused by her hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression secondary to a service-connected condition was granted. However, his claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to a service-connected condition was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran does not currently have any active form of hepatitis, or any hepatitis residuals, other than a laboratory finding of Hepatitis A antibodies. The criteria for service connection of hepatitis are not met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and hepatitis C due to incomplete development of medical records, particularly from the Dallas VA Medical Center. The claims are now pending again with the AOJ.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.,The Veteran's current hepatitis C (HCV) was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hepatitis C was denied. The Board also dismissed the TDIU claim as moot due to his combined 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of hepatitis C and determined that it was not incurred or aggravated during service, but rather is more likely due to other risk factors such as drug use outside of his period of service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.