Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for hepatitis C due to exposure to herbicide, but finds that service connection is not warranted as there is no evidence of a current disability or any link between service and the condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's hepatitis C, including whether it was caused by his military service or post-service activities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence related to the veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, Hepatitis C, low back disability, and respiratory disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for PTSD, hepatitis C, and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support reopening the claim for PTSD or establishing service connection for hepatitis C or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative residuals of an intestinal obstruction secondary to abdominal adhesions do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, and his hepatitis C with high liver enzymes is rated appropriately at 20 percent. The claim for increased evaluations remains denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C with liver damage is denied as there is no current disability due to the disease.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; a skin rash of the hands; herpes zoster of the leg; and hepatitis. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death, cirrhosis, was not caused by or related to his service-connected anxiety reaction. The medical opinions provided do not support a finding that the medications for treatment of the veteran's anxiety contributed to his development of liver disease.

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

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C, carcinoma and end-stage liver disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, depression, or kidney disability. The evidence was insufficient to establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C. The Board finds that the veteran was exposed to blood in Vietnam, which may have resulted in his chronic hepatitis C infection. Therefore, service connection is granted for hepatitis C.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C as there is no competent medical evidence associating his current condition with his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis, kidney disability, and residuals of pneumonia have all been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The veteran's epidermal cyst disability was not incurred in or related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. His hepatitis C was not incurred during service and is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, dysthymia, major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and low back pain. The claim for service connection of a back injury was reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and development of evidence, including consideration of revised rating criteria effective July 2, 2001.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of his death and his request for Dependent's Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for readjudication due to a lack of medical evidence and need for an examination.

The Board found that the veteran does not have cirrhosis of the liver, jaundice, hepatitis, splenomegaly, and pancytopenia with liver transplant related to active service. The claim for service connection was denied.