The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C and resulting cirrhosis do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there were no incapacitating episodes or objective findings of malaise, anorexia, hepatomegaly, or minor weight loss attributable to the conditions. The effective date for the award of a 20 percent disability evaluation is granted as December 16, 2008.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis did not result in incapacitating episodes with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, or right upper quadrant pain having a total duration of at least four weeks during any twelve-month period. The residual cirrhosis did not cause splenomegaly, anorexia, malaise, or minor weight loss.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis C, Cirrhosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 1, 2013
- Citation
- 1331607
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 1331607.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable initial rating for Hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's condition was asymptomatic and did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C with cirrhosis is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding it related to his active duty service and aggravated by his service-connected tibia fractures. The claim for hepatitis C is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for depressive disorder is established based on direct evidence of a current disability (depressive disorder) that was incurred during active duty service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected Hepatitis C, lumbar DDD with strain, osteomyelitis, and loss of use of right foot disability rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance. Effective October 28, 2008, the Veteran meets the criteria for SMC under various provisions.
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