Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's HCV infection was not incurred or aggravated in service, as there is evidence of in-service intravenous drug use which is considered willful misconduct. The risk factors for HCV are not established by the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as reopening of his cirrhosis claim, were granted. The Veteran was also found to have diabetic retinopathy secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50% disability rating from June 4, 1998 to July 25, 2002. The RO is directed to assign an initial compensable evaluation for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for various conditions was received on December 20, 2007. The appellant seeks accrued benefits based on this claim, but the Veteran died before the next month and thus there is no potential for an award.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for hepatitis B, finding that the veteran's intermittent fatigue and decreased energy levels meet the criteria for this rating. The appeal is denied for service connection of hepatitis C as secondary to hepatitis B.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to clarify the nature and onset of his hepatitis B and C, including whether these conditions began during service or are related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is not service-connected as it was caused by his own willful misconduct involving the use of intravenous drugs during service.

The cause of the Veteran's death, cirrhosis of the liver, was not found to be service-connected as it did not develop in service or due to a condition that developed in service. The appellant's claims for alcohol-related causation and PTSD medication aggravation were not supported by evidence.

The Veteran's GERD with hepatitis B was granted service connection, but the RO did not assign a higher initial evaluation for either condition. The Board denied an increased rating for GERD and found no evidence of active liver disease warranting a separate compensable evaluation for hepatitis B.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis and Guillian-Barré syndrome, including as due to exposure to Agent Orange, are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant is the Veteran's surviving spouse and whether his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to cause death. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis and a liver condition other than hepatitis, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no medical evidence suggesting a connection to service. The current diagnosis of hepatitis C is associated with the Veteran's long history of intravenous drug use.

The Board has determined that additional development of the record, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination for hepatitis C etiology, and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the service-connected low back disability is necessary before deciding these issues.

The Board found that hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of their presence during service. The diagnoses were first documented after service, but the Veteran did not provide credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent over any portion of the rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension and steatohepatitis have been granted service connection, with a 20 percent evaluation for steatohepatitis effective June 1, 2004. Service connection has also been established for spermatic cord lipoma (or small indirect inguinal hernia). The remaining issues were denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, as well as to assess the current severity of his thoracic spine degenerative disc disease. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of hepatitis B and C are related to his high-risk sexual activities during active duty, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, specifically his in-service IV drug use.