Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's Hepatitis C was not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The veteran's hepatitis C, with ulcerative colitis and anemia, is currently manifested by fatigue, abdominal pain, tremors, difficulty gaining weight, headaches, frequent bowel movements, and depression. The Board found that these symptoms are sufficient to meet the criteria for a 60 percent rating under the criteria in effect prior to July 2001 but not warranting a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was denied. The VA found that the veteran does not have PTSD and his major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder are related to service.,The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was granted. It is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a liver disability due to infectious hepatitis or other disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

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

The Board found that Hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim. The issue of PTSD is pending as it involves a new and material evidence claim.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various disabilities he claims are related to his active military service, including radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease. The appeal involves issues regarding the reopening of a claim and the establishment of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hepatitis residuals do not warrant a compensable evaluation, as there are no current symptoms associated with the condition.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling, and thus is not entitled to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating for type II diabetes mellitus, service connection for coronary artery disease, residuals of hepatitis A, and prostate condition. The RO previously granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus but did not address the other issues in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain all VA medical records from Manhattan, New York. The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C with liver damage will be reconsidered after obtaining these records.

The Board found that the veteran's liver disability, including hepatitis and chronic liver disease, is not due to service. The VA examiner determined it was very unlikely that the veteran incurred his liver disease during active service.

The Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence to support the veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus as secondary or aggravated by medications used to treat his service-connected low back disability. As a result, the claims are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, a dental disorder, and new and material evidence to reopen his skin disorder claim. The veteran's requests for increased evaluations for residuals of gunshot wounds of the left groin and knees were also denied. Finally, the TDIU was not granted earlier than May 8, 2001.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no evidence linking his current diagnosis to his period of active service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and further development of evidence.

The VA has determined that the veteran's hepatitis B does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and thus denied his claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise in showing that the currently demonstrated hepatitis C is due to disease or injury that was incurred in active service, and grants service connection for hepatitis C.

The veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found that the most likely route of transmission for his hepatitis C was intravenous drug use, which is considered a form of self-inflicted injury under VA regulations. As such, he cannot be granted compensation for this condition. For TDIU, while the veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities and completed three years of college, there is no evidence that these conditions are so severe as to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, training, and occupational experience.