Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hepatitis C. The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and its incurrence or aggravation during active service may not be presumed. Diabetes mellitus was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and its incurrence or aggravation during active service may not be presumed. Resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor, hepatitis C was incurred in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C and determined that new evidence received since the last final denial supports a finding of current disability. The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically related to his history of intravenous drug use.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not show daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia requiring dietary restriction or continuous medication, nor incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's hepatitis was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and HIV/AIDS, to include as secondary to the psychiatric disorder, are reopened but denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current hepatitis disorder or an acquired psychiatric disorder claimed as depression related to service. The lung disorder was not shown to be directly related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hepatitis C began in service or is otherwise related to a disease or injury in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis B due to new and material evidence. However, it was determined that he does not have a current disability of hepatitis B or malaria for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated at 60 percent disabling, which approximates the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also has cirrhosis of the liver, but this does not warrant an additional separate rating as it is considered part of his hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hepatitis C and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange or any other incident of service, and concluded that his diabetes did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected Hepatitis C is rated at 60 percent for all periods on appeal, granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to alcohol abuse caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, which contributed substantially to the fatal end stage liver disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee disability, bilateral trench foot, viral hepatitis, dental disorder (grinding teeth), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right arm lipoma, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and left big toenail condition. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional evidence from healthcare providers.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence submitted by the appellant. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for hepatitis C, as there is no evidence linking it to his active duty service. The Board found that the in-service findings were more consistent with mild alcoholic hepatitis than hepatitis C.