Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during his active service, and the Board finds that it is more likely due to his intravenous drug abuse and unprotected sex with multiple partners.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C remains pending.

The Veteran's HCV is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his exposure history.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for hepatitis B and C with portal fibrosis and cirrhosis is being remanded due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process. The appellant needs to indicate whether she wishes to pursue the claim as a substitute or on accrued benefits.

The Veteran's Hepatitis B does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there are no intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia symptoms. The Board finds that the Veteran's statements indicating such symptoms are not credible.

The Veteran's acid reflux/hiatal hernia and bilateral hand disability have been granted service connection, while the claim for Hepatitis A has not met the criteria.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were granted service connection with effective dates earlier than November 20, 2003. The 100% disability rating for hepatitis C was also granted with an effective date of December 5, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, including due to air gun inoculations with shared needles. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C was granted at a non-compensable rating prior to December 21, 2011. From that date forward, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied. The Board also found no basis for granting an extraschedular evaluation or TDIU based on his hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is pending and not decided.,The VA blood transfusion in December 2001 did not cause or worsen the Veteran's hepatitis C, as it was likely caused by his own drug use. The Veteran has been denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hepatitis C due to a December 2001 VA blood transfusion.,The Veteran failed to provide information about his former wife's income during the relevant period, resulting in denial of nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to March 1, 2007.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for hepatitis C and hypertension have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by the Veteran at a Board hearing.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether hepatitis C is etiologically related to the Veteran's receipt of air gun immunization injections in service, and thus grants service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar disc disease is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's hepatitis C to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that steatohepatitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a gastrointestinal disorder are not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for both hepatitis C and a skin disorder to the RO for additional action due to inadequate assistance at an August 2012 hearing.

The Veteran's death was not due to a condition that pre-existed service or was incurred in or aggravated by service prior to August 13, 2002. The claim for REPS benefits is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees, finding that there is no evidence to support a secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.