Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The Veteran's hepatitis C, status post liver transplant was granted service connection and assigned a 40 percent evaluation effective February 27, 2001. The appeal is for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is not shown to be due to a disease or injury incurred in service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of hepatitis A, B, or C and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a stab wound and hepatitis C were denied as the evidence does not support service connection. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the presence of multiple nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, to include as secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder with alcohol dependence, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and for hepatitis C. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

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

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a liver condition. The remaining claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records, verifying Agent Orange exposure, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C due to new and material evidence received since the last final denial. The Board determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran contracted hepatitis C during his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is most likely attributable to his history of intravenous drug use, which occurred during a period when he was stationed overseas in Germany. Therefore, the Board determined that hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's death was caused by hepatitis C, which is service-connected. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C is being reconsidered on its merits.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is rated at 20 percent, which approximates the criteria for daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia (without weight loss or hepatomegaly), requiring dietary restriction or continuous medication.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim of being a helpless child for VA dependency and indemnity compensation, including service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence showing she was permanently incapable of self-support prior to age 18.

The Board has determined that the Veteran timely filed a substantive appeal, and thus the claim of service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hepatitis C was denied as the evidence did not show daily fatigue, malaise, anorexia, weight loss or hepatomegaly, or; incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks, but less than six weeks, during the past 12-month period.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for hepatitis C, and thus the claim is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran did not innocently acquire hepatitis C infection during active service and denied claims for service connection for chronic renal failure, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. The evidence showed no direct link between these conditions and his military service.