Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The veteran's hepatitis C with liver fibrosis, degenerative disc disease of L4-S1 with spinal stenosis, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee have been granted service connection. However, his claims for higher evaluations are denied.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection for back disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis C, and respiratory/lung disease (claimed as a residual of asbestos exposure) were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment. The case is being remanded for additional development regarding the etiology of his hepatitis C.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, chloracne, skin cirrhosis, and a tumor of the left parotid gland. The veteran was also denied reopening his claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for hepatitis C, effective July 2000. The veteran's condition is currently characterized by moderate liver damage including stage three fibrosis and cirrhosis requiring prescribed medications, secondary depression requiring prescribed medication; objective observations of fluctuating weight (including weight loss), abdominal pain and inflammation of the liver; and fatigue.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his duodenal ulcer was denied.,The claims to reopen service connection for hepatitis C, syphilis, and gonorrhea were not supported by new and material evidence, resulting in denial of those claims.,Service connection for a right shoulder disorder was not established.

The Board determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as his Hepatitis C did not have its onset during active service and there is no evidence linking it to service. The VA examiner concluded that the risk of Hepatitis C due to jet injector inoculations was biologically plausible but less likely than other known modes of transmission such as intravenous drug use.

The veteran's hepatitis C is not the result of VA surgery in February 1971, and it was not caused or chronically worsened by his service-connected gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including posttraumatic stress disorder. The veteran's hepatitis C is considered to be related to his military service, specifically due to tattoos obtained during active service and unprotected sexual contact.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions and reconstruct missing service records, as well as to clarify the etiology of the veteran's hepatitis C.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and hepatitis. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service occurrence or aggravation, or nexus between the disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

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

The veteran's skin rash and hepatitis C were not shown to be related to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis and PTSD, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or in-service exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by hepatitis C, which is more likely than not related to service. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.