Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) Board decisions

The Board found no competent evidence of current liver damage or hepatitis C infection due to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Hepatitis. The decision found that there was no combat service, insufficient evidence of verified stressors, and a current diagnosis of PTSD did not meet diagnostic criteria.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for viral hepatitis as there was no competent evidence of current disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and hepatitis B and C. The veteran's claim for hepatitis B was not well-grounded due to a lack of current clinical evidence, while his claim for hepatitis C was not related to service based on medical evidence. For PTSD, the RO is instructed to request information from the veteran about in-service stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, low back disorder, and respiratory disorder. The appeals regarding these issues were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's death was not caused by VA hospital care, treatment or examination. The appellant's claims for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and accrued benefits are denied as the veteran had no pending claims at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic hepatitis C. The December 1996 rating decision is final, and the veteran's claim remains in a closed status.

The Board found that the claim of service connection for cause of death is not well grounded due to lack of evidence linking a service-connected disability to the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings of hypertension and hepatitis B are not well-grounded, as there is no evidence showing a worsening in their conditions to warrant an increase in disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability of the feet and hepatitis, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for the foot condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for hepatitis and PTSD, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, hepatitis C virus, and epididymitis are well-grounded. The claims for depression, hypertension, and heart disease are denied due to lack of inservice findings or diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis with secondary respiratory disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral knee disorder, and eye disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a digestive condition to include hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and cholelithiasis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service or any inservice exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has vacated the previous denial and is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current liver disorder is related to his service-connected hepatitis.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis. The VA has not obtained all of his medical records, including those from the Long Beach VA Medical Center and West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis B with gall bladder removal and gastritis does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10% disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between any diagnosed conditions and his active service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and information from the U.S. Armed Services Center for Research of Unit Records (USASCRUR).