Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the last final denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for hepatitis B residuals.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected hepatitis C was productive of daily moderate fatigue and malaise, but no other symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and ensure proper notice has been provided. The claims for PTSD, hepatitis C, and right knee injury residuals will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not manifest during or as a result of his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records from SSA. The Veteran's claims of Hepatitis C and low back condition will be evaluated based on whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and liver cancer are not related to his military service, while hepatitis C is not shown to be directly caused by or aggravated by a service-connected condition. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder and hepatitis C, finding no current disability or credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not met the criteria for increased evaluations beyond the currently assigned ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his hepatitis C and whether his coronary artery disease is aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a facial scar, bilateral hearing loss, and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for hepatitis B was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that the Veteran's liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the current liver disease is related to service.

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

The Veteran's hepatitis C is the result of a blood transfusion during VA hospitalization in June 1992, and the Board finds that this additional disability was proximately caused by carelessness or lack of proper skill on the part of the VA. The event (the transfusion) was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including tuberculosis, liver damage and hepatitis, endocrine system damage with diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, neuropathy of extremities, diabetic retinopathy blindness, and headaches. The decision found that new evidence did not support reopening the claim for residuals of tuberculosis, and that there was no direct service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, as there is no evidence of a transfusion during service and the condition first appeared many years after separation.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for hepatitis C was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus restored the service connection.

The Veteran's left knee condition was found to have existed pre-service and aggravated by service, warranting service connection.,A 10% rating is granted for the Veteran's left ankle disability due to marked limitation of motion.