Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis and arthritis, finding new and material evidence. The claim for an effective date earlier than September 16, 1996, for the grant of service connection for gastritis is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and for increased ratings for his PTSD. The veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by occupational and social impairment, but not to a degree warranting an increased rating.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was denied due to the combined rating of his nonservice-connected disabilities not meeting the threshold for a total disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C cannot be granted as there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his Hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver was denied. The current rating of 60 percent is maintained.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his hepatitis service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, despite confirming past exposure to hepatitis A.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis B does not warrant an increased evaluation, and thus the claim is denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for pulmonary tuberculosis with pulmonary fibrosis, finding that the veteran's condition results in moderate dyspnea on extended exertion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C, allowing the case to be considered on its merits.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for residuals of hepatitis A, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, heart disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

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

The Board found that the veteran's intravenous substance abuse, a manifestation of his service-connected PTSD, was the cause of his death from metastatic adenocarcinoma and cirrhosis of the liver. As such, service connection for the cause of his death is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis, finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current diagnosis to his military service.

The appellant, the veteran's spouse, is not a veteran or shown to have entitlement to any compensation for residuals of hepatitis C as the spouse of a veteran. The criteria for entitlement to VA disability compensation benefits due to a spouse's hepatitis C infection are not met.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected hepatitis warrants a rating of 10 percent, which is in line with the current criteria for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection for hepatitis C and a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD are pending.

The veteran's hepatitis C was evaluated at 30 percent from December 1, 1994 to May 21, 1996 and at 60 percent since May 21, 1996. The Board found that the most favorable evaluation under the new rating criteria is 100 percent for any period after July 2, 2001.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current chronic Hepatitis C to his service, and denied the claim of service connection.

The veteran's hepatitis C was presumed to be due to his service in Vietnam, and he is granted service connection for this condition. His PTSD remains at a 50% rating before December 31, 2001, and at a 70% rating from that date onwards.