Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of infectious hepatitis, which was previously denied in June 1990. The additional evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

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

The VA denied an increased evaluation for hepatitis C, finding that the veteran's condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or substantial weight loss.

The Board denied service connection for bursitis of the right shoulder, allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis), right ankle pain, and mitral valve regurgitation. The initial ratings assigned for degenerative disc disease with spondylosis at L1-2 and L2-3, hepatitis B, residuals of a stress fracture of the right lower leg, and residuals of a stress fracture of the left lower leg were also denied.

The veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, but there is no service-connected disability that can be linked to these causes.,The veteran had Recognized Guerilla Service and his death does not qualify him for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and Type II diabetes mellitus, as well as his service connection claims for Ménire's disease, hypertension, cardiovascular-renal disease, kidney stones, thyroid tumor, arthritis, ulcer (gastric-peptic), and hepatitis C. The Board found that the veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a scar of the right thigh.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C is not service-connected as it resulted from his own misconduct, specifically intravenous drug use during and after active service.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it was incurred in active military service. Service connection is denied for HIV and herpes.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and atopic dermatitis, finding no evidence of a nexus to service. The claim for atopic dermatitis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if the veteran's Hepatitis C was incurred in service or due to a service-connected condition, and thus remands the case for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including hepatitis C, cervical spine fusion with residuals, lumbar spine injury with residuals, gunshot wounds to both knees, and left foot disability. The decision also addressed issues related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C due to insufficient consideration of recent medical records, including Internet articles submitted by the veteran. The RO/AMC is instructed to obtain all outstanding VA treatment records from September 2006 to the present.

The VA denied an increased disability rating for hepatitis C, finding that the veteran's condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his claim to reopen a PTSD claim was also denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the PTSD claim due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is related to his period of service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The TDIU claim remains pending as it does not meet the percentage requirements under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board found that hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated in active military service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for hepatitis C, left knee disability, or psychiatric disability (including PTSD). The veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied as it did not manifest until many years after service. Service connection for the other conditions was also denied due to lack of competent evidence linking them to service.

The veteran's GERD with cholecystectomy and steatohepatitis is rated at 10 percent, but the claim for left leg numbness is denied as there is no current disability.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for Hepatitis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and compliance with VA's duty to assist. The veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C, which he claims was incurred during his military service in Vietnam.