The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a liver disability, including hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver. The evidence received since the May 2004 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. Resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for service connection for hepatitis C have been met.
The deciding factor: The July 2011 VA examination and November 2011 addendum opinion established a positive nexus between the current hepatitis C and the Veteran's in-service exposure to blood during combat. The March 1972 VA treatment record, which noted the Veteran's history of heroin use, was considered but outweighed by the July 2011 examination.
- Claimed conditions
- hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2013
- Citation
- 1323188
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1323188.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim for major depression to encompass any mental health disability raised by the record and has remanded six issues for additional development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for COPD, PTSD, hepatitis C, TDIU, and temporary total disability evaluation due to a failure to address his timely request for higher-level review of the July 2018 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes, gum disease, hypertension, orthopedic foot disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, hepatitis C, skin disorder of the feet (claimed as trench foot), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and anxiety) due to errors in duty to assist.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
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